When Carter Hunt was just nine years old, his world shifted forever. His father—his
hero, his guiding light—passed away from a rare autoimmune condition. From those earliest days of heartbreak, Carter carried with him the memory of the man he adored.
Raised by his mother, a civilian employee for the U.S. Army, Carter’s adolescence
was shaped by resilience and transition. In 2014, when he was 17, the family relocated
to Germany for his mother’s work. It was a turning point—one that would later mark
the beginning of his fight for sobriety and his journey toward purpose.
The year before moving overseas, Carter had begun experimenting with drugs. Methamphetamine
quickly took hold of him, wrapping itself around his ambitions and clouding the bright
mind he was beginning to discover. But the move to Germany, far from familiar access
and toxic influences, slowed that downward spiral.
“Drugs just weren’t as easy to get there,” Carter says. “It gave me space to breathe.”
He not only finished high school while living abroad, but also earned an Associate
Degree in Liberal Arts through a program on the Air Force base. When the family returned
to the States and settled in San Antonio, however, old patterns resurfaced.
Carter slipped back into drug use. This time, many of the people struggling around
him were men he could have respected and admired, but instead of finding role models,
he saw a reflection of where the road led.
Eighteen months after relapsing, Carter made a decision that would change the course
of his life. He left San Antonio for Odessa, where a trusted friend offered support
and accountability. “When I decided to stop using, I just stopped. Not everyone can
do that, but I made it.”
And one year after getting sober, Carter enrolled at Odessa College.
“I like school, and I like learning,” he says, a simple truth that now anchors his
life.
Carter earned an Associate of Arts in Psychology, then returned to pursue a second
degree—this time in Substance Abuse Counseling. Next weekend, he will walk the graduation
stage with that degree. His practicum at a local rehab facility confirmed what had
been stirring in his heart for years.
“I always wanted to be a counselor, and I always wanted to help people,” he says.
“But I didn’t know if I wanted to be in alcohol and drug counseling. I have loved
it.”
Carter’s path to healing has also been one of rediscovery. He found strength not just
in academics, but in the relationships and community at Odessa College. He got involved
with student activities and began volunteering throughout the city—building a new
life rooted in service and growth.
“I always had high expectations of myself,” Carter reflects, “but [as an adult] I
didn’t expect much because I didn’t expect to be alive.”
Now, he’s looking forward with clarity and purpose. Sobriety has opened doors. Faith
has given him hope. And education has equipped him to turn his pain into a platform
for healing others.
“At OC, I’ve found friends and a community that I couldn’t be happier with,” he says.
“Now, God is opening so many doors for me—it’s exciting to see where it takes me.”
From the shadows of grief and addiction, Carter Hunt is emerging as a light for others.
His journey isn't just one of survival—it's a story of transformation, resilience,
and the quiet, determined strength of a man who chose to live.