June 2011: Katie Lentz

Your past and your present are there to shape your future; but whether it is in a negative or positive manner, you can choose! The inspiring Katie Lentz openly shared her trials and tribulations with no sugar coating, in hopes that youth everywhere can learn from her mistakes.

Just over a year ago, Katie had found herself in the wrong crowd, with the wrong boyfriend, and doing all the wrong things, so to speak. She was caught in the downward spiral of substance abuse, beginning with alcohol and continuing on to Oxycoton. “I don’t remember a good two-thirds of being 16,” she sadly says. She openly discussed how this led to her lying and manipulating her parents, the same parents who received unexplained ambulance bills, phone calls from the police and continuous absences by their daughter. After having to go in to youth custody, live in a group home, and have a no-contact order set by her parents, she came to the realization on her own that this was not what she wanted for her future. With the help of teachers and family, she was able to discover a hidden strength within herself. Katie signed up for a day treatment program while living in a youth custody house where she says her, “every move was monitored.” Following this treatment, she moved back home; however, it definitely was not an easy adjustment.

With this experience she has grown, but has not forgotten her past. Rather, she is “thankful for the mistakes [she has] made,”. Her family relationships have become a lot more open and although she has relapsed she has learned that she knows when to say no!

Ironically enough, it is thanks to her past decisions that have led her to her future ambitions. Currently she is working as a Youth Mentor for youth ages 11-16 doing early intervention and crisis intervention. Although she will be finishing high school a year late, she has worked very hard to get to where she is and has a future goal to go forward to Douglas College and then the University of Victoria to study child psychology.

Speaking to Katie off-air was one of the most inspiring conversations I have had to date. She had no secrets, spoke openly of her past and confidently of her future. A person that has gone through so much and has come out on top, making a difference in our community and on top of it all, with a smile on her face�that is truly commendable!

About the Author: Zahra Premji

Her headphones in, music blasting, and of course groovin' to the beat of the day literally no matter where she is! This is how you'll find Zahra on most days, whether it be while writing papers or bungee jumping. Adventurous and spontaneous are probably the best words that describe her and her lust for travel and discovery from Australia to Africa. Zahra loves what she does because she enjoys digging up the facts and using her voice to tell the stories that may not be heard otherwise. Considering she is just about done her Major in Communications at SFU she hopes to make her dreams a reality and take the steps towards becoming a Television Broadcaster.

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