A Journey of Self-Discovery Sixty-three, sober and just getting started, this is Joseph Valadez, Long Beach State University graduate.
by Chris Baltierra
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fter a photo of Joseph Valadez holding his new sociology degree went viral in February, his story became the front page of the internet. He’s wearing his grad cap in the photo, along with pressed khakis and a tank top that exposes his tattoos. “They say that ‘a picture is
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worth a thousand words.’ I’m here to debunk that stigma,” he wrote in the now-famous Facebook post. “All I wanted was to stop putting needles in my arms. I’ve spent half my life in prison as a result of my addiction,” he wrote. In high school, Valadez said he was actually a pretty good stu-
dent with decent grades, but his counselors didn’t seem to notice. Valadez said his counselors would recommend things like construction, landscaping, or becoming a mechanic, over attending university. But, despite having felt like he was passed over in that regard, Valadez isn’t holding onto any bad feelings.
PHOTOS BY MIGUEL DE LA ROSA, COURTESY OF JOSEPH VALADEZ
