Dignity

Nexus helps women find their recovery path thanks to our dedicated staff who provide round-the-clock treatment and care, many of whom, are also in long-term recovery. This month, we are featuring one such staff member, Sondra Hamilton, Nexus’ Child Development Center Director. Sondra started working at Nexus in April 2019 and recently celebrated 19 years of recovery this past June.

At her lowest moments, Sondra never imagined that life could get better. She arrived in Dallas from her hometown of Kilgore, Texas in 2002, At that time, she had been using for about 10 years and was escaping an abusive relationship. Although she had been able to function throughout that time, the death of her mother sent her over the edge, and she began using to help her cope and numb her thoughts and feelings. Not knowing anyone in the city, she eventually wound up on the streets, sleeping on porches and in abandoned houses. Reflecting on that time, Sondra says, “I was at a point that I would get mad when I woke up in the morning because I had prayed the night before not to wake up. That’s just how terrible things were.”

A chance encounter with an old friend now in recovery helped set her on her own path. She moved into a home designated for transitional housing, which she helped refurbish, and participated in the outpatient program at Homeward Bound. Determined to stay clean, she decided to attend Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings. At her first meeting, she was astounded that the place was standing room only. She couldn’t believe that everyone in the room was clean. She also met people who had 10, 15, and 20 years of recovery. “I could never imagine that happening to me,” says Sondra, reflecting on this experience, “And now here I am, almost 20 years later.”

Sondra began working the program and making changes to get her life on track. She started a new career path in childcare, working at various organizations before eventually landing a job as a teacher at the Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church Child Development Center. At the age of 48, she also returned to school to study psychology and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2012. After graduating, she was promoted to Assistant Director at Lake Highlands. In April 2019, she left Lake Highlands to take on her new role as the Child Development Center Director at Nexus.

Over the years, Sondra had learned about Nexus through her NA sponsor, a Nexus alum, as well as other ladies who had come through the program. But it wasn’t until her experience working at Nexus, that she truly understood its impact on the community and on women’s lives. She looks forward to waking up in the morning and arrives in time to greet the moms and take the children to their classrooms. “These children are amazing,” Sondra beams. “Getting the chance to watch them grow, even if it’s a short time that they are here, you see such a magnificent change in them.” Sondra’s passion for her job is shared by her teachers who she says help create a loving atmosphere where children can grow and succeed.

Today, Sondra is thankful that her prayer during those dark days was unanswered because recovery has given her the life that she has now. In her free time, she enjoys reading crime and psychological thrillers as well as outdoor activities like swimming, horseback riding, and walking in nature. She would like to travel overseas when she retires and see the rest of the world. She also hopes to save enough money to go on mission trips with her church to help in other countries. Looking back at her recovery journey, Sondra says, “I want everybody to know that there’s such a great life after recovery. You can stay on the path. If you do the work, life just begins to happen. Just keep walking the path, just keep doing the next right thing and one day you’ll look up and you’ll have 19, 20 years. It’s just taking that first step.”