As September is National Recovery Month, I am happy to share this guest blog written by Andrea Tito and Kiwuani Williams. Andrea and Kiwuani are graduates of Rutgers Recovery House which provides on-campus housing for students in recovery from alcohol and/or drug dependence. Started in 1988, the recovery house provides an opportunity for students to have a fulfilling residential college experience living within a supportive community with other students in recovery. I commend Andrea and Kiwuani for their hard work and for sharing their stories about how a life in recovery is truly worth the effort.
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Two Recovery Stories Made with the Help of Rutgers Recovery House
Andrea Tito
Since graduating from the Rutgers Recovery House in 2018, I have gone back to school and started my second career in nursing, moved into my own apartment. I enjoy traveling alone and as well as with friends and family. The recovery house was a crucial foundation in my recovery as it helped me realize it is possible to have fun and do things most people do without having to drink or get high.
One of my favorite memories about living in the recovery house is Taco Tuesday when I would make tacos for my fellow house members. It was my way of showing my sober dorm mates how grateful I was for them because without this community I wouldn’t have been able to finish college. When I stopped drinking alcohol and smoking weed, I didn’t know if I was ever going to enjoy hanging out with friends, but the recovery house community gave us opportunities to engage in sober activities that I didn’t know I could do sober. For example, I was able to rediscover that I can dance sober, go to the movies with friends without getting high, and attend a karaoke outing without having to drink alcohol. I had a great time on a spring break trip with my friends in recovery and even remembered what happened. The recovery house made it possible for me to build new memories and build sober friendships. I offer words of encouragement to all those living a life of recovery and others who have decided not to use alcohol or drugs while attending college or university.
I’m excited to see where my professional career takes me and to continue to personally grow because today I am sober and have so many opportunities and a better outlook on the future.
Kiwuani Williams
My name is Kiwuani (K) Williams, and I lived in the Rutgers Recovery House from 2021 until 2026. Living in the house was a place for me to attend college without the worries of having substances and alcohol surrounding me. I went to college later in life because of the fear of wasting money and time with the intention of going to college but actually just partying. Having a supportive network of people that understood where I was coming from and having that common goal helped me tremendously. Some of my favorite memories at the house are staying up late, having real honest conversations with people, and building lifelong friendships because of those conversations. I remember having times where everyone is in the study room trying to lock in for exams and then, a week later, staying up until 4 AM, playing Catan.
Now I have my LSW and work at Ellie Mental Health in Piscataway. I learned so much while living within that community that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I hope to be able to help any student that is struggling in college, inside and outside of the recovery house. Having graduated college is one of my greatest accomplishments, and I truly don't believe I would have been able to graduate college if I wasn't in that environment. I definitely didn't expect to graduate Summa Cum Laude. I highly recommend any students who has issues with alcohol or other substances in the past to consider applying to live in the house.
Rutgers Recovery House
The Rutgers Recovery House is a on-campus residence hall that provides organized sober activities such as attendance at sporting events, hikes, bike trips, intramurals, and other campus events. Additionally, each year students assist in organizing special events, including an August retreat, spring break trip, or holiday parties for the recovery community. The Recovery House has a 12-month housing option. House staff includes a Recovery Counselor (RC) who advises students on academic and career support and provides oversight and supervision for the resident advisors, as well as two live-in Resident Assistants (RAs) who have resided in the Recovery House as residents for at least a year prior to becoming RAs. Students have easy access to university resources such as Rutgers Student Health, which includes Counseling, Alcohol & Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services (CAPS), medical services, on-campus 12-Step meetings, and recovery counseling.