April 14, 2023
By Susan Hildebrand
“I never gave up. Where there is breath, there is hope,” Gwinn Taylor said. Taylor’s life was interrupted after she was prescribed opiates after multiple surgeries, which led to a fentanyl addiction. It invaded her life and transported her to a place of despair. She was homeless, addicted to fentanyl, and lost custody of her children, but she survived. Over a span of 7 years and 17 treatment centers, she fought back and is in long-term recovery. Today, Taylor is a thriving college student enrolled in the University of Louisville bachelor of science in organizational leadership and learning (BS OLL) program, pursuing the counseling and human relations (CHR) track. Today, she no longer feels the despair of addiction. Instead, she is grateful, confident, and a better version of herself.
“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered. From large cities to rural America, no community is safe from the presence of fentanyl,” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said. According to the CDC, 107,375 people in the United States died of drug overdoses and drug poisonings in 2022. A staggering 67% of those deaths involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Taylor is a survivor, and her story is an evolution. She had a great job, a husband, two beautiful children, a home, and enjoyed lavish vacations. But being prescribed opiates after multiple surgeries led to a fentanyl addiction. Once the familial enablement stopped, she found herself sleeping in abandoned buildings, eating from dumpsters, and living on the streets. “Having the desperation of a drowning man and being badly mangled, I asked for help. I found counsel in another addict like me who had recovered from a hopeless state of mind. She was leading groups with emotional intelligence,” Taylor said.
Through this profound connection, Taylor began the difficult journey of recovery. “If she could recover, then I could too,” she said. Once Taylor had significant time under her belt, she decided to return to school to one day counsel others. After much investigation, she decided the UofL BS OLL program and CHR track was the perfect fit. “I selected the BS OLL program and CHR track because I want to help others by leading with emotional intelligence.”
Gwinn Taylor began the BS OLL degree in winter 2022 and plans to graduate in late 2024. Read about her experience in the program today.
"I had not bargained for all the additional ways this program would enrich my life," Gwinn Taylor
“I had not bargained for all the additional ways this program would enrich my life. I have already learned so much about self-care. For example, the Stress, Coping and Health course (ECPY 412) truly changed the way I approach everyday living. I learned that you can't pour from an empty cup. This course taught me that caring for myself is the best way to be effective. In addition to the skills I learned when feeling overwhelmed, I was blown away by the simple things I can do to stay healthy (mentally and physically),” Taylor said.
Taylor has also gained new insight from her ethics course. “I must mention how my Ethics course (LEAD 578) took me in a direction of interest I never knew existed. Constantly, I would tell my friends that it amazed me how people in the year of 2023 still looked upon addiction as a moral problem versus a disease. The ethics course allowed me to challenge myself on making ethical decisions in the workplace. I was able to study teachings from the great gurus and it truly changed my outlook. This course taught me that there are always multiple solutions to problems. Most importantly, following an ethical code can be the most powerful outline when making choices.”
“In addition to the outstanding list of courses to choose from, I’m enjoying the teamwork,” she continued. “Every class I have registered for has had a group project. This has been such a bonus for an online student. I have made friends and I have also learned the benefit of not working alone. Lastly, the group projects are preparing me to step in a leadership role. I am no longer passive aggressive, nor am I a people pleaser. This program has provided a platform for me to express my creativity. I am finding it easier every day to be confident with my ideas. I am so grateful that I chose this program. My family and friends have even noticed that I am a better version of myself. I cannot wait to pass along all the tools this program has taught me and to watch another person change under my counsel.”
The UofL BS OLL degree is designed specifically for adults with existing college credit and work and/or military experience. The program is award-winning, student-focused, and fully online. Students choose from nine tracks and are awarded up to 48 credit hours tuition-free from work and/or military training.
If you’re interested in the bachelor of science in organizational leadership and learning, visit our website to learn more.
About the College of Education and Human Development:
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