Matt Pomrenke of Jacksonville, Florida, credits a Grand Canyon University (GCU) professor’s encouragement for helping him overcome addiction and achieve academic success. Six years ago, Pomrenke was newly sober when he enrolled in GCU’s online counseling program. On the first day of class, Professor Jesse Prather shared his own background with students.
“I grew up in poverty. My father was an alcoholic who took his own life when I was 11. My mother then spiraled and became an addict. I saw drug use daily, drug dealers in my house, domestic violence. I grew up with no electricity, no food, no water for several years as young teenager.
I am the first person in my family to graduate. And I have five degrees. I broke generational curses of my family and the cycles. I have twin daughters who are 16. They never lived a day like I had to.
It doesn’t matter where you started. Everyone is going to have different obstacles. But if you want to overcome those obstacles, you have the capacity to do it. … Limitations are self-inflicted.”
Pomrenke said he struggled with substance abuse since his teens and turned to opiates after a car accident left him injured. By his thirties, he was using large amounts of fentanyl daily before seeking treatment and moving to Oregon for work.
“I thought, there has to be an answer, there has to be an off-ramp,” he said. “Why did I choose drugs over other things in my life? I wanted to understand that.”
After enrolling at GCU in 2019 and hearing Prather’s story during his introductory course, Pomrenke opened up about his doubts regarding school.
He later received this email from Prather:
“I hope this finds you well. As we are ending our course next week, I wanted to reach out to you. You have been an exceptional student in our class, and I sincerely appreciate your efforts. I have been an instructor for closing in on nine years, and I have developed an incredibly strong ‘sense’ about students that are going to graduate. Over the years I have been right almost 100% of the time. I want you to know I believe you will be one that graduates and does great things after you are done with school. I wish you the best as you move forward, and always remember that I believe in your abilities to succeed.” –Jesse C. Prather, MSL, MAED, MSAC
Pomrenke described how this message changed his outlook: “I’d never received anything like that before,” he said.“Here I am, 38-39, going back to school… And this email… set an expectation of myself and what I can do.”
Despite ongoing challenges throughout his studies at GCU—times when he felt like quitting—Pomrenke kept Prather’s words close as motivation.
In August 2022 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree and a reported GPA of 3.92, Pomrenke wrote back:
“There were times when I thought that this assignment… is good enough… Coming from active addiction… having someone believe in me was strange and uncomfortable…”
Prather explained why many students connect with him: “Can I do this? I try help them understand yes you can,” he said.“It’s not going to be easy always but you can do it.”
Pomrenke went on toward a master’s degree at GCU focused on addiction counseling while working at Molina Healthcare helping others access housing and employment during recovery.
He recounted encouraging clients during group sessions by acknowledging their feelings without judgment—a lesson inspired by support he received himself.
Before attending commencement last April upon completing requirements for his master’s degree at age 45,Pomrenke again thanked Prather:“There have been more than a couple times … if I made the right choices.I would look back at that email,take a break …and then keep at it….My three things [to be grateful for] are: Completing my work,hours,and program; Being able …to remember people do believe in me; Another day clean.”
