I read The Salt Lake Tribune’s recent article about former participants of The Other Side Academy. While I understand that those individuals have their own stories and experiences to tell, I believe there is another side that deserves to be heard: the side of someone who went through the program, stayed and thrived.

I am that person.

The Other Side Academy saved my life. I do not say that lightly. Without it, I honestly believe I would be dead today.

I came to the Academy from across the country at a time when my life was in serious trouble. I was a senior citizen and the only person my age there. I had little confidence, little self-esteem and very little hope for my future. Yet I was given an opportunity to take an honest look at myself, become accountable for my life and change.

The Academy helped me in ways that went far beyond giving me a place to live. They helped me physically, mentally, spiritually, financially, socially, educationally and vocationally. They helped me navigate Social Security. When my car was repossessed shortly after I arrived, they helped me deal with that situation. They helped me deal with bill collectors, doctors and bankruptcy.

Without the people and connections I found through The Other Side Academy, I would not have known how to navigate many of those situations. Without their help and connections, I might not even have been able to open a bank account.

But perhaps the most important thing they gave me was something I had lost: belief in myself.

They helped rebuild my confidence, self-esteem and overall sense of well-being. They helped prepare me educationally and vocationally for a life I never believed I could have. Today, I am alive, working, supporting myself and living a life that I am grateful for every single day. I know, without question, that I would not be living the good life I have today without The Other Side Academy.

I also want to address one of the things some former participants criticize: confrontation.

Yes, I was yelled at. Yes, I was told harsh truths. Yes, I was held accountable and confronted about my behavior and the ways I had been living my life.

And for me, that is exactly what I needed.

I had spent enough of my life avoiding responsibility, making excuses and refusing to honestly confront myself. Being challenged was not always comfortable. Sometimes it was extremely difficult. But I needed people who cared enough to tell me the truth when I did not want to hear it. I needed accountability. I needed to stop blaming everyone else and take a hard look at myself.

Without that, I do not believe I would have changed.

Dave Durocher’s leadership of the Other Side Academy is unparalleled. The effort he puts into the students goes above and beyond. Yes, I was yelled at by him on numerous occasions because he has the compassion and courage enough for students to be honest enough so they get the message. Dave has an open door policy where anyone — staff or student alike — can walk in and address their concerns. He arrives daily at 4 a.m., even on weekends and holidays. His power of example on how to live a good life resonates throughout the academy. He’s been a mentor to me and has had my best interests at heart. He steered me to success as a student and continues to mentor me long after I graduated. Without that type of leadership, I doubt I’d be around today.

I am not writing this letter to say that everyone else’s experience was the same as mine. I cannot speak for them, and they cannot speak for me. But I hope readers will understand that there are also people like me — people who stayed, changed and built lives they never thought possible.

My experience at The Other Side Academy was one of transformation, support, accountability and genuine care. They asked little of me except that I live right, continue growing and build a better life.

That is what I am trying to do.

The Other Side Academy did not simply help me get through a difficult time. It helped give me a life worth living. I owe them a debt of gratitude that I will never be able to fully repay.

John Risden moved from the east coast to Salt Lake City to attend The Other Side Academy. He works full-time as a commercial truck driver.

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