Bright future ahead as student walks new path

March 9, 2016

Rob Ostertag is somewhat of a renaissance man. He’s been in the military, spent years in construction and worked in the hospitality industry. Currently, he’s a community advocate and volunteer, sports enthusiast, foodie, proud grandfather, and student at Georgian’s Orillia Campus.

But Rob’s life hasn’t always been easy. He came from poverty, lived on the streets, and battled addiction for 32 years. Eight years ago, he almost died from a drug overdose. He became inspired by the young addictions counsellor who helped him get clean.

“She was 23 years old and I thought, ‘How in the heck can she help me?’,” Rob says. “I’d been higher longer than she’d been alive. But the training and knowledge she received from her schooling enabled her to do just that.”

Rob decided to go back to school to become an addictions counsellor. He wanted to help others, the same way the young woman helped him.

“I’ve learned more in college in two years than I did the first 52 years of my life,” he says. “When I got here I didn’t even know what a USB stick was . . . but I learned quickly Georgian is a place where you can go to see a smiling face and get assistance with pretty much anything.”

Rob runs a clean house for alcoholics and addicts. He’s a sponsor and second-year student in Georgian’s Social Service Worker program. He hopes to pursue the Addictions: Treatment and Prevention program after graduation.

“Being a social service worker means I have to put my biases and prejudices aside and work for the betterment of the community – and that’s what I try my best to do,” he says. “It’s a lot of work, but it is totally fulfilling and life-changing.”

Rob appreciates the fact that at Georgian he’s not a number, but a person. “It’s pretty awesome,” he says. “Georgian has changed my life for the better. I believe anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it – and I’m living proof.”