Tyler Hurst’s Recovery Reflections
by WHYY & OC87 Recovery Diaries
“Every night, before I go to sleep, I can look at myself in the mirror and be happy with who I am.” — Tyler Hurst
This simple action sums up a very difficult journey. A journey that is beautifully captured in My Journey Through Addiction into Recovery, a video created by first time filmmakers Tyler Hurst and Brooke Feldman.
Tyler and Brooke are active in YPR (Young People in Recovery), a national advocacy organization that aims to influence public policy, making it easier for youth to find and maintain their recovery from addiction. In fact, Tyler is the chapter lead for YPR – Philly!
OC87 Recovery Diaries and Philadelphia public television station WHYY teamed up with first time filmmakers from four area organizations that deal with mental health and wellness to create original short films that detail journeys of recovery and transformation. We are thrilled to present the first of this year’s four projects.
Tyler and Brooke participated in the 8-week workshop, and crafted a story about Tyler’s recovery journey, and his search for meaning and purpose in life. Although they were provided with technical and storytelling guidance from professionals, Tyler and Brooke were in charge of designing, filming, structuring and editing the video.
Tyler and Brooke work together to make a short film about Tyler’s recovery journey
Tyler is a busy man. In addition to his work with YPR – Philly! he has a full-time job, and is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is also active in student government.
About his work with YPR, Tyler says that “We do a lot of work with trying to create recovery ready America and that is what exactly it sounds like — it is a community that is ready to accept people that are in recovery.”
Despite his busy schedule, Tyler found time for the OC87Recovery Diaries / WHYY project, and found it both challenging and rewarding.
Brooke and Tyler embraced video as a way to raise awareness about the work they do to support recovery
“I had no idea about how extensive it was to actually make a movie and do all of the editing yourself,” he said. However, “it was another way for me do something which is active in my recovery and learn something at the same time and be a part of a project with a group of people. It felt really good.” –Tyler Hurst
Watch the video above and make sure to check out our interview with Tyler about his experience of making his first film.
“We all hope that we can reach a place in our lives that putting a focus on our mental health will just become second nature — raising our level of self-awareness to really understand who you are well enough to know when you need to reach out to somebody for help, when you need to see somebody, when you need to talk to somebody, when you realize that you might be struggling, and to realize when you are doing well.” –Tyler Hurst
See Related Recovery Stories: Addiction, Mental Health Short Films
