Sober Successes Interview Series: Mary Kate Jurek

We are happy to introduce The Granada House Board of Directors Interview Series with “Sober Successes”, graduates of the Granada House system, Donna Wolfe, Member of Board of Directors for 14 years, and Vocational Sober Coach, interviews Mary Kate Jurek, who was a Granada House resident in 2019.

Donna Wolfe: Mary Kate, what a pleasure it is to have to at Granada House as our Assistant Program Director. What a service you do for us!

Mary. Kate Jurek: I love doing this work. I am baffled by the statistics of recovering peoples’ success, and am enjoying contributing to its betterment.

DW: Tell me a bit about your experience.

MKJ: As a shy young person, with no answer to the anxiety caused by a very chaotic upbringing, I discovered early on that drugs and alcohol really helped. My preference was numbness. I was a high-functioning person and went to UMASS LOWELL, and studied nutrition, all the while indulging in alcohol use and opiates as well. I was in a crowd of people who were “hippy-dippy/ jam band folks” and drugs were completely normalized. My work has always followed the hospitality path and I was quite successful, as I can compartmentalize nicely. After opening a wonderful plant-based restaurant in Cambridge for a woman who was to become my mentor, I realized that fine dining was my niche. My years as general manager for top fine dining establishments were fueled with drugs and alcohol. I was using for 15 years.

DW: When did you hear about Granada House?

MKJ: Women’s Renewal CSS (Clinical Stabilization Services) in Boston.

DW: What were your expectations?

MKJ: I had NO idea! No expectations! My counselor at Women’s Renewal thought I would be a “good

fit”, and I really had no idea what she meant by that.

DW: How did you feel there?

MKJ: Terrified! I saw people with six months sober! Working! Staying sober! I did not think that I could do it. “Balancing life?” That was a concept I could not imagine.

DW: What were the strengths of the house?

MKJ: For me: Three things: a). Location and access to transportation; b). Structure; and c). Modeling. I watched others make good choices, and I watched others make mistakes that I did not want to repeat.

DW: What happened there?

MKJ: I learned about the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The house does not keep one sober, but it provides the resources for one to learn how to stay sober and live one’s life.

DW: So how do you stay sober today?

MKJ: I do the same things. My routine is a huge part of my maintaining my sobriety - going to work, going to meetings almost daily, and being of service when the opportunity arises. I have a sponsor and I sponsor other women, and I’m active in my home group (Brookline Young People). I love working but I keep my program first. I know what will happen if I don’t continue to do that.

DW: What would you have done differently?

MKJ: I would have addressed my Mental Health earlier! I did everything in my power to numb myself and not address my pain as I was growing up, and it only ended up being detrimental to my development.

DW: What are your hopes and strength?

MKJ: I am allowed to have a LIFE ! And a choice of how to live it. I have balance and seek more. I am just beginning this thought process about where I will go vocationally. I am increasingly aware of how much I have to work with as a sober woman.

DW: How is Granada House today, from the perspective of a worker and member of the staff?

MKJ: The house feels very strong today. I am beginning to get “the big picture” and am excited to be learning from and working with our leadership team: Erik, Vijay, and Marufa. I learned so much from our former clinical director Stephanie Freedman, as well as Stephanie McLean who was my case manager while I was a client. The epidemic of Covid 19 leveraged a huge challenge on the house: Hard to motivate residents to seek work, seek program and, frankly, seek community. Teamwork has paid off. All changes have been good.

DW: I am so happy that a person like you is bringing her strength and intelligence to our mission. We are fortunate to have you. Thank you.

MKJ: You are welcome!