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SERLC Quarterly Newsletter Summer 2025
Recovery Story Spotlight
Sam Adonis
(He/Him/His)
Peer Group Facilitator
Quincy RCC
Hello, I’m Sam and I recently started in the Group Facilitator position at Quincy RCC this past February! Getting and maintaining this job has been a huge milestone in my mental health journey. For many years I lived in groups homes or with my parents, and would spend all my days sleeping, staying up late playing videogames. The daytime was just too scary – too many people, noises, commitments. I’ll also say my ADLs were not well maintained, and I was in the process of sabotaging all my friendships. Fast forward to just a couple years ago, I started meeting on Zoom based support group, and getting outreach from a peer specialist. That’s when everything started changing.
Being able to socialize and get help with issues through telehealth, while still feeling the comfort zone of my home really made a big difference in my recovery. I soon began going on walks with outreach workers, then attending in-person groups, volunteering at the clubhouse as a role model, and next thing I know I’ve successfully applied to work at Quincy RCC.
"I think looking back on my experience, I can see that while our progress can be slow and difficult work, all our successes and failures pile on top of each other to bring us into who we need to be."
Another facet of my recovery has been gardening; whether my plants are showing little hints of color and life in the darkness of winter, or if I’m carefully cultivating my house greenery into happy little plants that will reward me with flowers.
One thing that I’ve found I’ve needed to balance carefully in my journey is my love of video games. They can be really useful for decompressing after a long day, playing with friends, or even experiencing something entirely new and different. But I’ve had to learn to limit my enjoyment so that I don’t binge for countless hours. I’ve always found journaling to be a huge help for this issue, as it’s a way to hold myself accountable while also tracking details that might be useful for my healthcare providers.
I’ve loved meeting everyone at the Quincy RCC, and can’t wait to meet more friends from other SERLC centers.
I’m mega proud to be here!
Sam
Recovery Story Spotlight
Janine Ortega
(She/Her/Hers)
Young Adult (TAY) Leader/Recovery Bridger
Quincy RCC
Hello, I’m Janine! It is an incredible honor to have the opportunity to share my story.
A few years ago, I was lost, searching for purpose and trying different paths, hoping to find something that truly lit a spark in me. Nothing ever seemed to fit quite right. I came from a family with a history of drug addiction and mental health conditions, and I had always promised myself I’d never go down that road, I thought I was taking care of myself. But what I didn’t see was how alcohol, something I never considered a problem, was slowly taking control of my life. I was using it as a way to cope with my own mental health struggles. It wasn’t until I hit a breaking point that I finally realized I needed help.
Throughout my struggles, one thing remained clear, I didn’t want to settle for a life or a career that felt meaningless. I wanted to wake up every day excited about what I was doing, to be an example for my two daughters. I wanted to show them that their mommy could break the cycle we came from, that we don’t have to be defined by our past or the environment we were born into.
Growing up, I was always the person my friends leaned on for advice, the one who was there for everyone else. At the time, I think I used helping others as a way to avoid facing my own struggles. But now, in recovery, I’ve learned that it’s possible to face my own challenges while still being there for others. I’ve discovered that not only am I good at helping people, but I truly enjoy it.
Today, I’m proud to be the new Peer Bridger and Young Adult Leader at the Quincy Recovery Connection Center. This role allows me to turn my lived experience into something meaningful, to give back to the community, and to show others that recovery is possible.
They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, and I finally feel like I’m on that path. I’m proud to be here today as someone who has made it out and who plans to stay on this journey, not just for myself, but for my daughters and for everyone I hope to support in the future.
“I’ll leave you with this: No matter how far gone you feel, it’s never too late to start over. Healing is not a straight line, but every step forward, no matter how small, is proof that change is possible. Keep showing up. Keep believing. And never forget that your story has the power to inspire someone else’s healing.”
Welcome Janine to the SERLC!