Mind Meetings #12 - Joseph Valadez

Joseph Valadez is a 63 year old veteran and recent graduate of Cal State Long Beach. He spent 38 years of his life addicted to heroin and has been to prison 40 times. It wasn’t until Joseph was in his mid 50s that he decided to get clean and do something with his life. In 2013, with the help of the Salvation Army of Anaheim Adult rehabilitation center, Joseph started his journey into sobriety. Fast forward 8 years and Mr Valadez graduated with a 3.67 gpa in the field of sociology. He’s currently is waiting acceptance into Cal State Long beaches graduate program for social work. His story is quite incredible and I was curious to find out why after 38 years of addiction, someone decides to turn their life around. In the words of Joseph, “I’m going to inspire somebody, I’m going to motivate somebody, I’m going to give somebody hope, that’s what I’m supposed to do.”