Michelle

Michelle learned discipline at a young age. Growing up in D.C., her mother taught her about managing finances and prioritizing rent at the top of her expenses. She harnessed her self-discipline as a means to success; she attended graduate school for Mental Health Administration and worked as an accomplished physical therapist for many years. Yet while she was flourishing professionally, underneath she was fighting a long battle with substance abuse.

After 20 years of struggling with addiction she found herself without a home. Fighting to regain her self-discipline, she enrolled in a treatment program. With the support of her counselors and family she took control of her addiction. Realizing the importance of keeping herself grounded, Michelle now works as a counselor for individuals coming out of detox at the same organization she went to for treatment.

Michelle sees owning her own home as the next step in her transformation. She loves the peaceful nature of her apartment and its close proximity to her family, and looks forward to one day calling it her own. She makes regular monthly deposits into her matched savings account towards its purchase, marking the days on her calendar when she'll visit the bank.

She recognizes the significance of the mandatory six-month savings period and plans to continue saving regularly each month after she graduates from CAAB's program. "It makes me feel good to have followed through and to be responsible for something, and on a consistent basis." She encourages positive thinking and recommends writing down one's goals and creating visuals as strong motivators. Michelle continues to stay true to her goals: the first check she writes every month is for rent and the second is for her matched savings account deposit. Now that's what we call self-discipline.