2 minute read
The Comeback Story
How Coty Benninger has overcome adversity and is chasing his dream of completing a college education.
“School is my safe place,” says Fanshawe student Coty Benninger. “When I’m learning and being challenged, I feel like I have a purpose.”
For Coty, attending college plays an important role in his comeback story. For 15 years, Coty was plagued with addictions to alcohol and drugs, which led him to some dark places.
A few years ago, Coty had a detrimental back injury and wound up in London, living at the Salvation Army Centre of Hope. After spending a year recovering from his injury and starting his sobriety process, Coty was looking for an opportunity to further his education.
“I wasn’t sure if I could even come to college because I only had a grade nine education,” Coty says. “But the staff at Fanshawe helped me and I enrolled in the Human Services Foundation program.”
Coty received bursaries from Fanshawe to cover his schooling, which helped immensely. He continued living at the shelter while attending school and calls it a humbling experience.
“It’s a difficult environment to be in with people who are experiencing issues with poverty, mental health and addiction,” Coty says.
Coty persevered and successfully finished the program, ending up on the Dean’s Honour Roll in his final term.
Today, Coty is approaching three years of continued sobriety, has his own place to live and is enrolled in the highly competitive Social Service Worker program. Having been on the client side of the profession for most of his life, Coty is looking for an opportunity to give hope to others.
“The value of helping means a lot to me,” Coty says. “I was once hopeless and now I’m looking for those people so I can be a relief to them.”
