Success Stories

Joshua Truchan, a native of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, learned about misfortune at an early age. “When I was eight years old, my mother was in a severe car accident. She had to have numerous hospitalizations and surgeries. It was especially difficult at the time because she was bedridden and had casts on her left leg and right arm. She was unable to work at her job as an elementary school teacher,” says Truchan. “The nurses and other health care professionals who treated and cared for my mom left a lasting impression on me. These people made a world of difference in her life, and in our family’s life.”

The Lost Years

In the years that followed, Truchan experienced ongoing trauma from witnessing what his mother had endured, and how life had changed for his family. This led to a severe substance use disorder. As a young teen, he started experimenting with marijuana and alcohol. By the time he was 16, he was addicted to opiates, using oxycontin on a daily basis. That same year, he also tried heroin for the first time.

Throughout the remainder of high school and in the years following, Truchan continued to struggle with addiction. “I was at Wayne State University on a full academic scholarship. In the first semester I had to go on medical leave to enter inpatient treatment for the first time, and I ended up going back two more times in the span of a few months,” he says. “I wasn't able to stay sober, and walked away from my scholarship. I continued to use drugs for the next few years.”

Finding Direction

Fortunately, after many challenges, Truchan was able to get sober. And through all of his trials and pain, he discovered a new sense of purpose, one that he wanted to pursue academically. “I wanted to do something that could make that same kind of difference the health care professionals had made in my mom’s life. To help someone in a time of need. It was something that aligned with the moral and spiritual principles I want to live by,” says Truchan.

Opening Doors

Truchan had been talking with a friend, an engineering student who had transferred to U-M from Washtenaw Community College, where he was currently taking classes. “He suggested I apply to U-M, and mentioned the Go Blue Guarantee, which he’d been a recipient of, as a possibility for me. I had never heard about this financial support,” he says.

Once Truchan finished taking all the necessary courses to apply to the U-M School of Nursing, which has a transfer program for incoming sophomores, he applied and was accepted. He soon received notification that he also qualified to receive the Go Blue Guarantee.

Truchan is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the U-M School of Nursing. “Getting accepted to U-M and receiving the Go Blue Guarantee was one of the happiest moments of my life. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to receive such generous funding to help me move my life forward,” he says. “The Go Blue Guarantee has been a blessing. It allows me to get my education without struggling and worrying about money 24/7. And I don’t have to worry about insurmountable debt.”

Paying it Forward

Staying true to his purpose, Truchan conducts research on substance use at the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health (DASH), an interprofessional and interdisciplinary center, based at the U-M School of Nursing. The center, which is led by Director Sean Esteban McCabe, PhD, and Co-Director Sarah A. Stoddard, PhD, brings together faculty from health science professions to address clinical, educational, and research issues related to substance use. Truchan serves as a research assistant under McCabe. “DASH does a lot of research around substance use, including opiates, stimulants, smoking, and alcohol use in different populations. Most recently, I've been focusing on the differences in craving between stimulant types,” he says.

A Cherished Moment

Truchan says one of his fondest memories at U-M was when he first started the program. “The School of Nursing is one of the newer buildings on campus. It’s a gorgeous facility and everything is modern,” he says. “I sat down for my first major lecture during the semester. I was taking everything in and looking at the scale of the classroom. I felt such a sense of accomplishment and peace that I had made the right decision. Being part of such an acclaimed nursing program at a world-class university gave me a real sense of gratitude. It was a turning point in my life where things were really heading in a positive direction.”

Finding his Place

Truchan is fascinated by the body's ability to holistically deal with adversity. “Whether it's mental health or physical health, the body has the ability to adapt, to change, and to recover,” he says. “I would like to continue to participate in academic research moving forward and work in a clinical setting. I have an externship this summer in the Critical Care Medical Unit at Michigan Medicine. In my senior year, I hope to work in the ER. And when I graduate I hope to be working in a high-acuity critical care department.”

Possibilities Abound

These days, Truchan feels he is finally on the right path. “I'm the healthiest I've ever been. I take care of myself. I'm eating well and exercising. And I'm doing well in my classes. Right now I have a 4.0 GPA. I feel competitive in my ability to move forward and grow professionally. It's just deciding what it is I want to do. I feel that the possibilities are endless.”