Nicquelle W.

The birth of her grandchildren provided the motivation Nicquelle needed to finally end a 15- to 20-year battle with chemical dependency and the lifestyle needed to support her habit.

"I didn’t want to be a grandmother like that,” she says. “You can tell your children something until you’re blue in the face, but I wanted to lead by example.”

And she did.

Nicquelle sought help and training at Goodwill, completing the Career Pathways program which helped her get into Seattle Central Community College. Now she’s pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in social and human services that includes a certificate to work with those who are chemically dependent.

She wants to give to others like Goodwill gave to her.

“I received so many services and levels of support from Goodwill,” she says. “I learned the tools to help myself on my journey of recovery. I changed my whole life and way of living!”