Episode 18 — College Can Wait, Your Mental and Physical Health Can’t —with Nick Slovak

There is no set timeline that you are supposed to be on in the grand scheme of things. Maybe from your parent’s point of view, or your peers, or your teachers but in reality, there isn’t one linear path you should be on. So what’s the rush? Academics will always be there. Though, your mind and body won’t last forever.Nick Slovak, Executive Director of Green Hill Recovery, has a position that comes with a lot of stressors that would have been very difficult to deal with before recovery. Starting in high school, Nick was kicked out for substance abuse and even though he had a taste of change in boarding school, his drug use continued through the years and into college. He eventually found out that sobriety and school were not a good mix for him and chose to focus on his recovery, which is one of the best decisions he made for himself. Recovery ended up providing Nick the emotional and life skills he had been longing for. When Nick decided to go back to school after recovery, he started his work at an extended care program and has been working in the field ever since and is in the process of getting his Master’s in Business Administration. On this episode of Success is Subjective, Nick joins Joanna to share his experience as an addict in college and his journey of sobriety that eventually led him to work with emerging adults going through early recovery. Nick’s non-linear experience has allowed him to show his clients that there is no set path, opening up a whole new world to them. Listen in for Nick’s insight on the importance of advocating for yourself in order to save your own life and live it to the fullest, instead of waiting for the ‘right’ time because time runs out.What You Will LearnBeing an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA)Getting kicked out of high schoolBeing kicked out of college a semester inTransferring colleges without help will not change your academic experience; and a checkered academic past is more common than we talk about College can wait!  It’s more important to get help rather than soldier on in higher educationUnderstanding the difference between sobriety and recoveryFeeling so far behind and hopelessWhy extended care and easing back into academics will set a person up for success on campus The importance of having a support systemLife isn’t a linear line from A to B It’s okay to take a break to work on yourselfConnect with Nick SlovakNick Slovak of Green Hill RecoveryEmail [email protected]  Call 984-204-1106 or Email [email protected] Connect with Joanna Lilley  Lilley ConsultingLilley Consulting on Instagram Lilley Consulting on Facebook Sponsored by: www.ParentTrainers.comEmail [email protected]