Diverse Background, One Community

For Jari, enrolling at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School has been part of his personal healing journey.  

Jari's journey has taken him from the Czech Republic to the US, from Wall Street to farmers' markets. After publishing a book about his recovery, he was determined to advance his career in the field of addiction treatment. 

The Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School was his obvious choice. "Hazelden Betty Ford is the industry leader, so I understood it was the place to be," he says. In his first semester, he was grateful to receive the Tim Sheehan Unlocking Tomorrow Scholarship—which was made possible by the Sheehan family and friends.

Jari has been gratified by the sense of belonging he has found at the Graduate School among his classmates and professors alike. "I feel like I'm part of a community," he says. "I'm honored to be part of the history and legacy of Hazelden Betty Ford."

As he completes his coursework, Jari is expanding his awareness and applying what he is learning toward his own life—even nine years into his own recovery. "I'm surprised to what degree this education has helped me to clarify my own goals," he says. "I'm working on myself as I do the work toward my degree."

Jari is passionate about advocacy and removing the social stigma around addiction. Through his education, he says, he has more chances to open conversations about recovery and the "disease concept" of addiction, and to show others the importance of what he is doing.  

Jari feels that he was "drawn to this calling. I believe I'm here to serve others," he says. He is involved in ministry work and plans to bring faith-based approaches into his work as a counselor. "I'm shining light on people in recovery."