Odd One Out: “That’S OK,” Jenna Said
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The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Campuses Advance-TitanVol. 128, No. 7 Oct. 22, 2020 advancetitan.com ‘What happened to Montee Ball?’ Photos taken or provided by Michael Cooney and FIXED participants Jenna Washuleski, left, has been has been surrounded by substance abuse her whole life, watching her sisters Carly, middle, and Leah, right, fight addicition. Odd one out: “That’s OK,” Jenna said. “I’m glad A family fights you’re taking steps to better your- self.” addiciton and Jenna is always delighted when she sees her club members succeed- for each other ing. These teens all share a common experience — they all come from dif- By Kaitlyn Scoville ficult lives where they need support, [email protected] such as living with family members who struggle with addiction. Just a day in the life Jenna knows what they are going Jenna Washuleski is in her ele- through. She knows what it’s like to ment. Despite the chaos of kids run- grow up in an environment full of ad- ning around at the Boys and Girls dicts and abuse. She knows what it’s Club of Oshkosh, she glides in with like to use. And she knows what it’s a special guest for a H.O.P.E. Group like to move past the addiction that — Hold On, Pain Ends. Montee Ball, still affects her family to this day. former Wisconsin Badger and Den- ver Broncos running back, came to share his experience with addiction Getting the call The call came in the morning when and alcoholism. Jenna was finally relaxing in bed af- Every Tuesday, Jenna facilitates ter a 14-hour work day, starting first this group for teens to gather and dis- as a substance abuse counselor and cuss some of the hardships they face then as a waitress. She didn’t want to in their homes. She created H.O.P.E. look at the Caller ID. Group in February 2019 to provide “Please, please, don’t let it be an outlet for teens to connect with about my sisters,” she thought. Jenna others who have been through sim- often didn’t know where either of her ilar experiences. sisters were. They could be in jail. These young people pour their They could be in the hospital from an hearts out about how they’ve been overdose. They could be anywhere. impacted by addiction, mental health Photos taken or provided by UWO alumnus Michael Cooney and FIXED participants She tried to ignore the ringing, but, issues, criminal activity and incar- Last year, Montee Ball, a running back for UW-Madison and former NFL player, as always, she couldn’t. She’s the re- ceration. opened up about his battles with addiction. sponsible sister. She always picked “I wanted them to have an area up. where they can relate to other peo- One week earlier, Jenna had ple their age,” Jenna said, smiling at reached out to Carly, her older sister, Former UW football the teenagers playing football in the and asked if she needed help. Carly concourse. “I’ve seen so many stu- had said no then. dents come forward about sharing “I changed my mind. I decided I their story. I want them to gain tools star talks addiction need you to take Makayla,” Carly they can apply to their lives, but to said. By Natalie Dillon comfortable. When I was drunk, it seemed do it in a way where we play games Jenna went on high alert. “OK, [email protected] like everyone loved me, and I did not un- and activities or by learning through when?” derstand I was creating some terrible hab- guest speakers.” “Tomorrow.” Pain and addiction its that I’d fall back on once I went to the A smiling teenage girl approaches Jenna thought to herself, ‘Oh my “What happened to Montee Ball? That NFL. Jenna, showing off her latest artwork God, tomorrow?’ “Are you serious? is the million-dollar question. “My room growing up was blue and or- from a tattered and worn notebook. OK.” “That is the question I saw on Google, ange with a wooden Broncos head on it, “Hey, that’s really great,” Jenna That “tomorrow” was Sept. 16, on Twitter, all the time. I was so anxious and that was my lifelong dream. said, as she flips through the note- 2017 when Jenna, then 26, took her to go out and to talk to people, so for me, “Fast forward to April 26, 2013: Draft book. “How is everything going?” then 13-year-old niece, Makayla, alcohol was my social lubricant. I fell day. John Elway was calling me when I “Good. I just got a job here at the into her home in Fond du Lac be- back on the drinking. was 22 years old and asking me if I wanted Boys and Girls Club, so I might not cause her sister, who struggles with “Why? Because when I was drunk, I felt to be a running back for the Denver Bron- be able to make it to H.O.P.E. much addiction and mental health disor- anymore,” the teen said. Jump to Ball / Page 6 Jump to FIXED / Page 5 Page 2 Page 4 Page 7 Page 9 County board vote Dr. Chancellor Nov. Election Letter: Save the blue lights Oct. 22, 2020 AdvanceTitan.com | 5 FIXED: Sisters’ addictions changes lives methamphetamine, possession of narcotic drugs and battery. For Carly, the charges include neglecting a child, disorderly conduct and theft. Jenna, somehow, was differ- From Page 1 ent from her sisters. She was living a double life between ders, couldn’t care for her. school and home. Jenna knew, at that moment, her At school, she maintained life would be changed forever. good grades and participated Winnebago County sees doz- in extracurricular activities. At ens of overdose deaths each home, she experimented with year. In 2018, 24 people lost drugs and alcohol with her sis- their lives because of opioids ters to try to stay close with and other addictive substances. them. The year before, 34 died from During her junior year of high opiate overdoses. school, Jenna began to distance Jenna plays an active role in herself from her family. She helping those who are willing to didn’t want to follow her sis- develop a life in recovery. She ters down the path of addiction. does this through her profession Their experiences drove Jenna’s as a counselor, as a member of desire to help others, so she the steering team and chair of went to college while her sisters the Prevention and Awareness were still active in their addic- Action Team for Breakwater, tion. ABOVE: Jenna Washshuleski formerly called the Winnebago “I went to class and we were and her niece, Makayla Brew- County Drug and Alcohol Co- talking about heroin. It was the ington, look through a photo alition, as a board member at day after I found out my sister album together. Jenna took Solutions Recovery, Inc. and at Leah was doing heroin. It was legal kinship of Makayla when the Boys and Girls Club of Os- really difficult to go to class and she was 13. RIGHT: From hkosh through H.O.P.E. Group. learn about these things as I am left: Carly, Jenna, and Leah as finding out that is what my sis- children. Jenna was just 1 when The early years ter is doing.” Jenna learned that her father left. Shortly after, her Jenna was only 1 when her creating healthy boundaries was mother lost custody and Jenna father left for work and never her next step. was sent to foster care with her returned. Her sisters, Leah and sister Leah, while Carly went to Carly, were 3 and 5, respective- The break-in stay with her grandmother. ly. Their mother, overwhelmed “Jenna, come with us,” Leah with being a single mom and whispered. Photos taken or provided by learning to balance working “What are we doing?” UW Oshkosh alumnus Michael third-shift with schoolwork, “We’re going to break into the Cooney and FIXED partici- struggled to cope. The hardship neighbor’s place.” of raising three children alone Jenna didn’t really want to weren’t looking for anything The overdose in a snap. Still, Jenna knew that with little support became too go, but she wanted to be closer in particular, but they all ran The text came on a Friday af- when it happened, she had to much; she lost custody and spent to her sisters. She’s the quint- around and grabbed random ternoon. distance herself, and Makayla, four months in jail on charges essential little sister who just things they thought might be of “Is there any chance we can from Carly in order for them of child abuse. Jenna and Leah, wants to fit in. She was a good value. Everyone except for Jen- reschedule the interview? I want to focus on their own mental then 5 and 7, went into foster student, an athlete and was well- na; she just stood there. to hang out with a friend I hav- health and self care. care; Carly, the oldest at 9, lived liked at school. Her sisters were ‘This is stupid, why am I en’t seen in a long time,” Carly . with their grandmother. rebellious, angry and sometimes here?’ Jenna thought. Fear raced sent. More on Makayla After a year apart, they re- violent with each other and with through her body, but a sound “Yeah, it’s no problem,” Jen- Since Sept.