You mention Hazelden in the recovery and treatment field and the antennas go up.
        --Rod Dimmer, Class of 2005

Rod Dimmer is from Fargo, North Dakota. Geographically, he wasn't as far from Hazelden as were classmates from South America or Iceland. But finances almost made the trek inaccessible.

He recalls, "I kept asking God what was His will was. The voice I heard kept saying 'Hazelden.' 'But I don't have any money,' I said. 'Don't worry, I'll take care of that.'"

Dimmer graduated in April 2007 with a Master of Arts Degree. Previously he had worked in restaurants and as an actor, and had been in recovery for about two years. Friends thought he would make a good counselor, and his pastor mentioned Hazelden's Graduate School. Dimmer had never considered counseling until he heard the name Hazelden. He spent hours on the internet looking for funding. The bank denied Dimmer's loan application, so he maxed out his credit card to pay for winter semester. Besides tuition there was rent, groceries, and a truck payment.

Despite the stress, Dimmer earned A's in both classes that winter. Financial help came from his brother, friends, even restaurant co-workers and customers. Dimmer's parents cashed in a CD and co-signed a loan, figuring their son wouldn't last a week. They soon realized how serious he was.

During a winter with two blizzards, Dimmer drove the 265 miles from Fargo to Center City on Tuesday mornings, attended class Tuesday evenings, and returned to Fargo Wednesday to work through Saturday at the restaurant. During summer he attended school full time. Rod recalls, "People were asking ‘Has anyone seen Rod?' 'He's at Hazelden.' 'Oh, no, did he relapse?' 'No, he's at school.'"

Dimmer described his instructors as "phenomenal," helping him reacclimate to school after 30 years and a career change at age 51. He also treasures the bonding with other students, saying, "There were people there I will never forget."

In time, Dimmer was offered a counseling position by the Sharehouse Wellness Center. He explained he wouldn't graduate until April 14; Sharehouse offered a starting date of May 1. "You mention Hazelden in the recovery and treatment field and the antennas go up," says Dimmer.

Recently a client's mother told him, "Thank you for giving me my son back." For Dimmer, who is repaying his tuition debts, this moment epitomized why he chose addiction counseling. "Life gets hard no matter what you're doing," he explains, "but I'm feeling the benefits more than I'm feeling the hardship. Six years ago if you told me I was going to be a CD counselor and own a house, I wouldn't have believed it."