When Bonnie White first walked onto the Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City campus, she wasn't just enrolling in college; she was rebuilding her life.

After years of addiction, homelessness, and time spent within the criminal justice system, White was searching for a fresh start. Today, she serves as Program Liaison at ReMerge, an Oklahoma City nonprofit that provides an alternative to incarceration for mothers facing prison sentences.

White credits OSU-OKC with giving her the hope she needed to believe that future was possible.

"I remember that being the first time that I had hope for my future," White said. "I knew deep within me that there was more for me, but how to get there was the big question."

Originally from Enid, Oklahoma, White excelled academically in high school and earned a scholarship to college. But after becoming pregnant during her senior year of college, a series of traumatic experiences led her into addiction.

She spent eight years battling drug addiction, cycling through treatment programs before deciding she wanted a different life.

That opportunity came after she entered a recovery program in Oklahoma City, where an OSU-OKC faculty member introduced participants to the college's Center for Social Innovation. The presentation sparked something White hadn't felt in years.

"I applied to OSU-OKC and got accepted," she said. "That was the first time I really believed my future could look different."

White enrolled at OSU-OKC and earned her associate degree in 2021, just one year into her recovery. The experience gave her the confidence to continue her education, eventually earning a bachelor's degree at University of Central Oklahoma.

"The whole thing gave me a lot of energy to keep going," White said.

More than the degree itself, White remembers feeling welcomed from the moment she arrived on campus.

"I remember feeling like I belonged at OSU-OKC right off the bat," she said. "Everyone was super welcoming. Just knowing there was a light at the end of the tunnel,  that I wasn't stuck in this mediocre life anymore, meant everything."

Today, White uses her own experiences to help women facing challenges similar to those she once endured.

As Program Liaison, she helps determine whether women are a good fit for ReMerge's program, teaches classes, connects participants with community resources and works to expand the organization's services into additional Oklahoma counties.

ReMerge serves women with minor children who qualify for prison diversion, offering intensive recovery support, accountability, case management and life skills programming in place of incarceration. The goal is to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior while helping mothers reunite with their children and become productive members of their communities.

"We want to walk alongside them on this journey," White said. "If I can go from being street homeless, addicted to drugs, hurting my family and losing custody of my son, so can anybody else."

For White, the most rewarding moments are watching participants begin to believe in themselves again.

"I love when the light comes on in their eyes," she said. "I've seen women get jobs, move into management and have hope for the first time. They're not walking aimlessly anymore."

White, who regained custody of her son, enjoys celebrating the everyday milestones many families take for granted, such as children returning home, birthday parties, parent-teacher conferences, and the end of guardianships.

"Seeing those full-circle moments is my favorite part," White said.

Recently, ReMerge expanded its support by opening a graduate center, giving program graduates continued access to community, case management and resources after completing the program.

Looking ahead, White hopes to help expand ReMerge's model into more rural Oklahoma communities and, eventually, beyond the state.

As she reflects on her own journey, White hopes current and future students understand that one opportunity can change the course of a life.

"If it wasn't for OSU-OKC, I honestly don't think I ever would have gone back to school," White said. "I don't know where I'd be today, but I'm proud of where I am today, and I can't thank OSU-OKC enough."

For those facing their own difficult circumstances, White offers simple but powerful advice.

"Keep putting one foot in front of the other, because opportunities will come if you just keep showing up and doing the next right thing."