Addiction can interrupt your life in ways you never expected. Even if school was once a priority, attending class, completing assignments, studying and future ambitions may have fallen by the wayside as substance use became more consuming.
Resuming your education can feel equally exciting and intimidating. You may worry that you’ve let your study skills lapse too much or compare yourself to friends who graduated while you were focusing on getting better.
At PACE Recovery, our certified counselors and doctoral- and master’s-level therapists believe an interrupted education does not have to be an abandoned one. With valuable structure and support, you can get back into working toward your academic goals while continuing to make your recovery a priority.
Give Your Brain Time to Recover
Substance use can affect memory, concentration, motivation, impulse control and other cognitive abilities that are essential for academic success – and your brain will need time to return to its previous level of functioning once you get sober.
You might initially find it harder to sit through a lecture, retain information you’ve read, organize assignments or study for long periods. Instead of treating these challenges as “proof” that you can’t handle school, give yourself grace. Regaining your executive function means dusting off skills that may have gone unused for some time. Just like your physical endurance, your academic stamina can return gradually. Start where you are and build from there.
Don’t Try to Do Everything at Once
You may feel pressure to make up for lost time after participating in structured therapy. However, rushing through progress will create unnecessary stress and burnout symptoms, which can jeopardize the healthy foundation you’re building.
Recovery teaches you that lasting progress comes from repeatedly achieving small goals, and education works much the same way. Setting realistic targets instead of trying to “fix” everything as quickly as possible is a far more self-compassionate approach. Depending on where you are in recovery, success might look like enrolling in one or two classes instead of a full course load or finishing your high school diploma before thinking about college courses.
What if You Feel Behind?
Watching your former classmates graduate, start their careers or pursue graduate degrees can be painful if addiction disrupted your plans. However, comparing your progress to someone else’s is counterproductive because it creates shame, anxiety or feelings of being left out.
There is no universal schedule for completing your education. While some people go directly from high school to college and graduate four years later, over 20% of students take more than four years to earn a bachelor’s degree. Others take gap years, change majors, transfer schools or put college on hold for years. Instead of competing with the person sitting next to you in class, work on finding a pace that allows you to succeed while protecting your mental health and recovery.
Rebuild Your Student Skills
Returning to school requires you to restore the habits that make learning possible. Like any other skill, these improve with practice:
- Managing your time effectively.
- Organizing assignments and deadlines.
- Breaking complex projects into manageable steps.
- Asking for help instead of avoiding difficult assignments.
- Establishing consistent sleep and study schedules.
- Balancing academic responsibilities with recovery.
- Learning to cope with frustration without giving up.
Resuming Your Education at PACE Academy
PACE Academy allows young men to pursue their education while continuing the essential work of recovery. The program meets clients wherever they are academically, providing support for those working toward a high school diploma, completing college coursework or pursuing graduate-level studies.
Our highly structured environment includes weekly tutoring, plus study skills and life skills groups where you can strengthen abilities such as organization, time management, writing, decision-making, budgeting, resume writing and interviewing. If you aren’t sure what you want to do next, career assessment testing can identify your interests and potential academic paths.
Successfully completing an assignment, course, semester or degree program will rebuild your self-confidence – something addiction often damages. Every assignment you submit and every course you complete becomes evidence that you can follow through on the promises you make to yourself and others.
Going Back to School on Your Terms
Nobody expects you to transform your entire life overnight. You only need to keep putting one foot in front of the other every day.
PACE Recovery helps young men strengthen their recovery while rediscovering their academic and professional potential. Through PACE Academy, you can return to learning with the accountability and individualized attention you need to succeed. Your path may look different than you once imagined, and that’s OK.
Whether you want to complete high school, return to college or resume graduate studies, you haven’t missed your chance. Connect with us to learn more.