Matt Bratton: Embracing Change

Matt believes the theme for his recent graduation from Mesa Community College, "Embracing Change," could also be the motto for his own life. In the past 15 years his life has been transformed from drug addict and shooting victim to hard-working father, and from high school dropout to college graduate.

Matt Bratton is shown at his recent graduation with his grandmother , Nancy L. Dickerson, and his daughter, Kelsey Lee Dickerson.

The Wrong Path
Family abuse and alcoholism sent Matt down a wrong path early in life. After serving hard time, undergoing counseling and earnestly pursuing an education at Mesa Community College, he has turned his life around and managed to overcome his extensive injuries.

"By the age of 15, I had already started learning 'street survival skills' and my rap sheet began to blossom," says Matt. "Worst of all, I was starting to do all the wrong things, like street drugs, and became easily addicted to anything that could help me escape from reality.

"Even though I was headed in the wrong direction, I promised my mother to get my G.E.D., which I did through MCC in 1988."

A Dramatic Turn
In 1992, when he was just 22 years old, his life took a dramatic turn. A 15-year-old on crack shot him in the face with a 22-caliber handgun. The gunshot caused severe head trauma, and he was taken to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital.

"When the EMTs told me where I was going, I thought, 'How ironic, I was born at SMH and I'm going to die at the same place,' Matt says. "Fortunately, that wasn't how it went. I was given a second chance, not just to live, but to redeem myself."

Because he was in possession of drugs at the time of the shooting, Matt spent a year in Madison County Jail for violating probation for the same charge. When he was discharged on home arrest, he was court-ordered to 18 months in the Community Punishment Program and to thousands of hours of probation, counseling and work programs.

Starting Over
"This was the beginning for me," he says. "After years of intensive physical, speech, family, sex, and drug counseling, I changed my life for the better. So in 1997, after battling post-traumatic stress, infections, losing teeth, massive medical and dental expenses, and lead in my skull at the base of my neck (causing chronic pain), I chose to go to MCC to be more of a role model for my daughter and possibly become a counselor for people who have gone through similar situations in life."

"School has given me a new direction in life. It has helped me learn ways to be more self-sufficient," he says. "Without school, I might have reverted to my old behaviors."

Although college brought him new opportunities and friends, Matt also struggled with relearning simple things such as multiplication timetables. He believes that he spent the first of his four years at MCC dealing with learning disabilities caused by the shooting.

"Traveling through this mountain of education was more challenging than I imagined. Learning math over again was absolutely trying. I found myself needing counseling again," he says.

Help Through Disability Resources He found the help he needed through Jack Clevenger, coordinator of disability resources at MCC.

"Jack Clevenger has been my guide and friend," says Matt. "And in the rare times that mistakes have been made, Jack has made up ten-fold with his proactive, sensitive and appreciative attention to each of his student clients like me.

"Jack is such a cool guy, and he helped me out a ton," he says.

Embracing Change
Today Matt is once again embracing change in a positive light as his injuries and pain management cost him his career as a production supervisor. He is currently an entrepreneur in the nutritional supplements industry. He is also considering work as a personal trainer who can help people with rehabilitation issues.

"Money is always an issue because of doctor bills and being a single parent. But for sure I want to continue with school," he says. "I want my daughter, Kelsey, to see what happens when you further your education. I want to walk it and not just talk it so I can provide a better life for Kelsey."

He is also thankful that he is among the 13% of all the released convicts who were on the home arrest program with him who didn't return to prison or jail.

Although he still struggles with his injuries and medical bills, he chooses to focus on positive outcomes. "I have found I have to embrace change or it holds me back," he says. "If you stay positive and think 'half full,' I believe something good does happen after something bad."

In conclusion, Matt believes that the difficult lessons he has learned can be used to help others.

"Even at my lowest low, with school as my light at the end of the tunnel I felt I could endure. Through school there are counselors and people who will help with advice. I would like to tell others who are in constant pain or fear that there's someone who cares, so don't give up on yourself."