August 15, 2024 |
Toppee Phetsysouk
Toppee’s recovery journey began long before May 28, 2022; it truly started over 40 years ago with his father’s struggle with addiction. Witnessing his father’s battles, victories, struggles, and eventual demise profoundly impacted Toppee. Unintentionally, he followed a similar path for over 30 years. His path was filled with lies, poor decisions, and self-centered behavior. A critical turning point came when Toppee realized he wasn’t living up to the values his parents had hoped to instill in him. He was not the person he was meant to be—a man of values, morals, accountability, and integrity.
On May 28, 2022, Toppee arrived at Red Barn Academy feeling broken, paranoid, scared, and unloved. He was brought here by his best friend Shane. His support was crucial in getting him to Red Barn. He was instructed to sit on “the bench,” a symbolic choice between his old life and a new one. Feeling overwhelmed with fear and loneliness, he initially wanted to leave. However, with Shane’s unwavering support and the guidance of fellow students, Bryce and Nicholas. Toppee decided to stay and fight for a better life. This decision marked the beginning of a more fulfilling and meaningful journey at Red Barn, supported by fellow residents battling similar struggles.
Over the next two years, Toppee embraced the values of hard work, accountability, and integrity. Today, he serves as a mentor to others at Red Barn Academy, and he engages in healthy activities and maintains a healthy lifestyle. Toppee is committed to extending his stay at Red Barn and actively participating in the Alumni group. As the Food Service Manager, he guides younger residents and interns, sharing his experiences and emphasizing the importance of living a life centered on honesty, integrity, empathy, accountability, and love.