That mindset finally caught up with me.
At 44 years old, after an eight-day drug binge, I committed 21-armed robberies in just 16 hours, and I was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Looking back now, prison saved my life.
Not because I changed overnight. I didn't. For much of my incarceration, I continued finding ways to stay high. Recovery was the last thing I wanted.
Then I met Michelle Sparks.
Michelle came into Southern Desert Correctional Center through HOPE for Prisoners to teach a substance abuse class. One day, she asked me what I thought about total sobriety.
I told her exactly what I thought. I believed people who needed complete sobriety were weak.
Instead of arguing with me, Michelle simply said, "Okay, Mr. Shuba. Just keep coming to class and we'll see what happens."
No judgment. No lecture. No shame.
That moment changed everything.
Michelle saw something in me that I couldn't see in myself. She checked in on me, asked hard questions, listened, and kept showing up. For the first time, someone wasn't trying to force me into recovery. She was inviting me to believe a different life was possible.
I often say that if Michelle had responded any differently that day, I might still be in prison and still be high.
When I was released in September 2024, the journey wasn't easy. I struggled, made mistakes, and nearly gave up more than once. But people continued showing up for me, offering encouragement, accountability, and another chance to keep moving forward.
Eventually, I found my way to The Salvation Army.
The structure and accountability challenged me in ways I had never experienced before. At first, I resisted it. Then I realized something I had never been willing to admit:
The problem wasn't the rules. The problem was me.
For the first time in my life, I began learning discipline, patience, responsibility, and how to live as a productive adult. Graduating from The Salvation Army program in January 2026 remains one of the accomplishments I am most proud of.
Throughout that process, another person from HOPE for Prisoners continued walking beside me: my Case Manager, Terena.
Terena has a gift for meeting people where they are. She never tried to force me into a box or tell me who I should be. She listened, encouraged me, connected me with resources, and helped me focus on the next step in front of me.
Many people think support ends when someone leaves prison. The truth is, that's often when the real work begins.
Terena understood that.
Even today, she remains someone I can call when I need guidance. She never treated me like a problem to solve. She treated me like a person worth helping.
That kind of support leaves a lasting impact.
"Watching Steven grow in his reentry walk has not only inspired me as a Case Manager, but also his peers in the community and here at HOPE for Prisoners," Terena says. "He has an amazing comeback story. I am blessed to be a part of watching God work through Steve's life." - Terena
Today, I have more than 20 months of sobriety.
I work for Precision Opinion, conducting health surveys, and am completing peer recovery support training through Foundation for Recovery. I attend meetings, work on my recovery program, and stay connected to people who support the life I want to continue building.
My life today is simple.
There are no drugs to chase. No lies to remember. No police looking for me. No hiding.
For the first time in my life, I have peace.
At 53 years old, I feel like I'm learning how to be an adult for the first time. The lessons most people learned years ago, I'm finally learning now, one day at a time.
If someone leaving prison asked me whether HOPE for Prisoners is worth it, my answer would be simple:
Try it.
HOPE gave me a foundation. Michelle gave me a reason to consider sobriety. Terena helped me keep moving forward. The Salvation Army taught me how to live with structure and accountability.
Together, they helped me build something I never had before:
A life.
And after spending most of my life running from myself, that's something worth protecting every single day.
