April 16th, 2008

Dear Lon Woodbury,

I recently graduated V3 Tucson, a sober living community located in the heart of Tucson, Arizona for young adults ages 17-26. I spent my first year of sobriety at V3 Tucson. The time spent at V3 was the hardest and most rewarding for it brought new experiences of independence that I had never felt before as an alcoholic teenager. Today I am a confident young man who is firmly rooted in the 12 steps of recovery, a life of excellence that V3 promotes.

As I landed at V3 Tucson I was loved by a incredible support system of fellow residents and staff, and sponsor who guided me through a rigorous curriculum one step at a time. My family also a major influence in my completion of the program, set firm boundaries at the start with tough love letters that spoke to the chaos I had put them through. The letters stated that I must complete V3 or the streets would be my home. Today I have a wonderful relationship with my parents and sister and the past arguments that I had while in my addiction are not an issue.

Incorporated in the V3 Tucson curriculum is Neurotherapy sessions, which helped the damaged portions of my brain recover from the abuse that occurred in my addiction. Another major aspect of the curriculum that aided my recovery was Wilderness Therapy. We camped in the White Mountains for a week at a time, focusing on becoming centered with a higher power. This was highly effective for the mountains with crisp air and ancient pine forests reminded me of the Northeast eliminating the stereotype from my mind that Arizona is purely a desert.

My tennis game improved as I continued play at V3 Tucson. Playing twice a week, my motor coordination improved with my serve and volleys. I learned that I could have fun sober on the tennis court. As Community Service is a fundamental of V3, we helped teach physically challenged children to hit the tennis ball with ease. Also within the Tucson community we helped served serve food to the homeless and worked at the Ronald McDonald house on several occasions. Our commitment to Habitat for Humanity is ongoing on a weekly basis. I love the work for it builds hands on carpentry skills and learning how to construct a house.

V3 Tucson also encourages physical fitness at gyms. Working out a few times a week at Gold’s Gym, I am able to run a mile in under 6 minutes today. Going rock climbing at the rock gym on a monthly basis improves my upper body strength and there is a great satisfaction ringing the bell at the top of the rock wall. Hiking in the local Catalina Mountains are past times that I never had until V3 Tucson. We also helped build a University of Arizona ropes course during my V3 residency.

Behavior modification is a major aspect of V3 Tucson. When I arrived at V3 my family was in distraught having sent me to two treatments before V3, both of which I did not stay sober afterwards. As I am a graduate V3 Tucson today I am confident that I can do far more than just stay sober. I can live a powerful life today and have an incredibly fun time in the process. I am so grateful to V3 Tucson for the incredible opportunity it has presented me with. From the beginning of my stay to now as a graduate, V3’s commitment to inspire the residents and graduates to live powerful, excellent lives of service is insurmountable by the plagues of the past.

Much more than what I learned in rehab, V3 Tucson finishing school has helped save my life and embark upon my journey of college successfully. I would love to pass on the amazing life I live today to anyone who is my age with a glint of a desire to stay sober and become successful.

God Bless,
Wright Smith
V3 Tucson Graduate
Wrights@v3tucson.com
520-358-1404