Opportunity Can Change Everything | My Member Story

In his early 20s, Collin Cooper’s life took an unexpected turn. During a mission for his church, Collin spent two years focused on improving people’s lives. After returning home, his life shifted dramatically as he began a struggle with addiction and incarceration. Despite this, he met people who were willing to give him a desperately needed second chance—opportunities that ultimately redirected his journey.

Starting off on the right foot

Collin grew up in a loving home with supportive parents and four younger brothers. He played several sports and had many friends. During high school, he never struggled with drugs, alcohol or criminal activity.

While serving his mission, Collin mainly traveled by bicycle. After months and months of daily riding, he began to contend with debilitating back pain. Switching to car transportation helped keep the pain at bay. But when he returned home and began working at a restaurant, on his feet for eight hours or more, the pain came back in full force.

Attempting to cope

Pain became a constant in Collin’s life. He eventually sought advice from a medical professional where MRIs showed his L4 and L5 discs were torn and herniated. Wanting to avoid fusing his back at age 21, the doctor prescribed pain medications, muscle relaxers and physical therapy.

The pain medication became essential to functioning at his job. When he once forgot to bring it to work, a coworker provided him with something else to manage the pain, setting in motion a corrosive dependency that escalated into using and selling much harder substances.

Eventually, he was arrested and sent to drug court for rehabilitation. But Collin wasn’t ready to take his treatment seriously and had no intention of stopping his use—he was only there to avoid going to prison. After graduating from the program, he continued to struggle with addiction and sought out new ways to obtain medication to soothe the personal losses and manage the pain.

Caught in a downward spiral

For the next several years, Collin began a cycle of stopping and starting drug use while getting arrested more than 20 times.

After years of suffering, Collin planned to end his life at age 38. In this desperate moment, he decided to ask for help one last time. He texted his mom, “I need help.” Even after years of financial manipulation and no contact from Collin, his mother dropped what she was doing and took him to the hospital.

Rebuilding step by step

With no money or health insurance, a hospital case manager recommended Collin check out The Other Side Academy (TOSA), a training school for individuals facing long-term incarceration as well as those seeking a change from the choices of their past. Students of TOSA have often dealt with substance use, criminal conviction or homelessness. This referral to TOSA saved Collin’s life. “I was broken when I got [to TOSA], completely broken,” he revealed. “I bought into this place really quick.”

When he first walked into TOSA, Collin was stunned to see a friend working at the reception desk who he had used drugs with frequently in the past. “She looked like a totally different person,” he recalled. “The moment I saw her, I knew this place was different, just because of her.” He also attributes tough love from TOSA’s executive director Dave Durocher to his decision to stay and pursue help.

Over the next four years, Collin learned techniques to better understand his emotions, develop self-confidence, and find purpose in helping others through similar situations. At one point, Collin was selected to be a counselor for 37 new program participants. “They're coming to me with their struggles, talking to me… and I get to tell them there’s hope,” Collin reflected. “They don’t have to live this life anymore.”

“I wake up with a purpose each day,” he expressed. “People rely on me. People trust me. People want me in their lives today because of who I am and what I stand for—not like before, because of the money or drugs I had on me. These people are willing to do anything for me. These things are important to me, and I'm not willing to give that up for anything.”

Continuing to make a difference

Now employed on TOSA’s legal team, Collin had a full-circle experience when he was assisting a drug user and past friend—whom he hadn’t seen in over a decade—with his move from prison to TOSA. “When he saw me, he didn't even recognize me,” Collin shared. “He said I was totally different now.”

The students at TOSA have often destroyed their credit after years of financial mismanagement or have never had a bank account at all. Mountain America Credit Union provides ongoing financial education for the students, helping them understand how to build credit and make financially responsible decisions.

When Collin became a TOSA staff member, he had terrible credit. This stopped many banks from issuing him a credit card. But Mountain America was willing to give Collin the opportunity. “Mountain America believed in me and was willing to take a chance on me. My credit, my savings, my debit [checking account] is all through Mountain America. I wouldn't go to any other place.”

We’re proud to be in your corner, Collin, and for the amazing way you have transformed your life.