Jarret’s Story

My name is Jared. I took the Keys for Life program when I was about 23,now I’m 26, and I’m in the best relationship I’ve ever had. I’m with my beautiful girlfriend, who I love so much, and I’m genuinely excited for our future together. I also have a job that I love, something I sort of stumbled into by following the life paths I reflected on during the program.

It’s led me to a place where I feel really satisfied in a lot of areas of my life, which honestly felt unfathomable before working with you guys.

Back then, I would’ve labeled myself a prototypical introvert. I spent most of my time in my room playing video games, socializing mostly through online platforms. That was my world. But after spending time with you and learning from the program, I gained a new perspective new ideas about how I wanted to interact with the world.

The biggest shifts for me were around self-reflection, checking my ego, and becoming more aware of how my thoughts were shaped. One of the most powerful takeaways was adopting a ‘no judgment’ mindset. Just accepting people for who they are, because we really can’t control others we can only try to understand them. That kind of acceptance ended up leading to deeper self-acceptance too.

One of the biggest things I gained was personal confidence. By becoming aware of my ego and learning to question the thoughts that would bubble up, I started to focus more on what felt real and true. That allowed me to take chances instead of shutting down before even trying.

I found the confidence to put myself out there to develop strong relationships, especially romantic ones and the outcomes have been totally amazing. I’ve also gained a lot of social confidence. I spend more time with people now, and it’s wild to realize how much energy and joy I actually get from those experiences.

Before, I avoided people. Being around others was stressful. But now? It's the complete opposite. Group experiences, deep conversations, shared moments that’s where I find the most meaning in life.

I’ve also come to really value human connection as a source of wisdom. More than the internet, or books, or school even if those seem like ‘more reliable’ sources. Tapping into real human experience feels more valuable and alive.

It’s been a slow and steady transformation. I didn’t make huge, dramatic changes that usually backfired. But small steps, taken consistently, added up to a massive shift in how I live and who I am. And for that, I’m so grateful.

Jarret