For Monique Rodriguez, her work at Pasadena Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (PCADD), a program of Social Model Recovery Systems, is more than a role. It is work that feels personal and meaningful. After facing difficult times in her own life, she knows how much courage it takes to keep moving forward.
Today, she brings that same strength and compassion to the participants she supports, walking alongside them as they take their own steps toward healing, growth, and recovery.
Monique has been with PCADD since September 2021. In her role, she supports participants as they work through recovery, healing, and personal growth. She understands that recovery can be difficult, and she brings compassion, patience, and consistency to the people she serves.
Her decision to pursue the Addiction Studies Program at East Los Angeles College came from seeing how addiction affects individuals and families.
“Seeing how addiction impacts people and families pushed me to understand it better and be part of the healing process,” Monique shared.
Completing the program was a very personal achievement for Monique. It was not just about earning a certificate. It was about proving to herself that she could keep going, even when life became hard.
While Monique was in school, she was going through one of the hardest seasons of her life. She lost her mother, faced serious health challenges, and still continued working and attending classes. Even when it was difficult, she kept showing up and stayed focused on her goal.
One lesson that helped her came from her father, who taught her, “The show goes on.” Those words stayed with her during the hardest moments.
“No matter what I was facing, losing my mom, health challenges, work, or school, I kept showing up and moving forward,” Monique said.
She also shared that the PCADD team played an important part in her journey. Her coworkers encouraged, supported, and helped her stay focused, making her feel cared for and understood.
Being at PCADD helped Monique see the heart behind what she was learning. The lessons were not just coming from a textbook. They showed up in the conversations she had, the people she supported, and the recovery work she was part of every day. PCADD also enabled her to keep attending school while continuing to do the work she cares about.
“My work at PCADD has deeply shaped my educational journey by giving me a real sense of purpose in what I’m learning,” she shared.
Through the Addiction Studies Program, Monique learned that recovery is not something anyone should have to go through alone. Support matters. Showing up matters. And setbacks do not erase the progress someone has made, encouraging others to persevere.
Monique wants to use what she has learned to be a steady and supportive presence for participants. She hopes to meet people with compassion, help them feel heard, and encourage them to stay connected to treatment as they work toward lasting change.
When Monique looks back on her journey, she is most proud of not giving up on herself.
“I found the strength to keep moving forward, even when I was going through some of the darkest and most difficult moments in my life,” she said.
Before entering the recovery field, Monique spent 18 years working as a supermarket manager, including three years in marketing at the corporate office. After many years in that career, she made the brave decision to start a new path. Today, she is in a field that feels more meaningful and personally fulfilling.
For Monique, this journey is proof that a new beginning can happen at any stage of life. It may not always be easy, but each step forward can lead to something meaningful.
To anyone thinking about going back to school or pursuing addiction studies, Monique would remind them that it is never too late to start.
“It can be tough,” she said, “but it is worth it if you want to grow and help others. Even small steps forward can become something meaningful over time.”
Next, Monique hopes to complete her certification within the next two months. After that, she plans to take life one step at a time and stay open to what comes next.
Monique’s story says a lot about who she is. She went through grief, serious health challenges, school, and work all at the same time, but she kept going. Today, she brings that same heart, patience, and understanding to the participants she supports at PCADD.
