How Cory Cooper Skated Through Recovery

Nov. 26—Sierra Marling

Have you ever sat on the couch, watching TV, wondering what it's like to be one of the people starring in one of your favorite shows? A local Madison County man named Cory Cooper knows that life and says that it is one he was more than willing to leave behind, stating, "That fame — in my 20s — it came with a price."

That price, according to Cooper, was the loss of career opportunities, family relationships, and even some time behind bars.

Cooper's story begins with jam skating — a style of skating that combines dance and gymnastics. Jam skating was a hobby for Cory, and that hobby turned into real opportunities. There are videos online of Cooper competing in championships, performing choreographed routines, and executing gymnastic stunts. Before he knew it, he was performing at high-profile concerts and even auditioning for America's Got Talent. It was after auditioning for and being cleared to move forward with those auditions that he found trouble.

According to Cooper, he had just served twenty months and was trying to put his energy into jam skating. However, his struggle with family issues left him turning for an ear to listen, and he found comfort in the bar scene, citing the familiarity of "the same group of buddies, the same time frame, the same waitresses," as a soothing factor in a turbulent time.

It was not long before some photos were taken of Cooper at the bar, which led to him failing a breathalyzer test and breaking parole. He was set to serve a weekend but failed to report, which led to another 20 months served. Cooper's reasoning was, "I didn't want to accept responsibility for me messing up, and I didn't think I had a problem with alcohol."

Drug court was a turning point for Cooper. He says that, in addition to Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, his community service and rehabilitation classes helped him find discipline and stability. He is working to share his testimony with others so that they can find the peace and success.

"My main goal is to change, even one person's outlook, one person's perspective, so they know that their life matters. They don't have to continue to go through that vicious cycle, because that's what it is. It's just a vicious cycle. You know, you make excuses, and you put on a mask, but at the end of the day, when you come to clarity, you realize that those problems and those suppressed feelings are still there. All you're doing is prolonging your success, as far as trying to push through whatever you need to," he said.

That same comfort that he once found in the bar scene all those years ago is now found in improving his health and spending time with family. He still occasionally jam skates as well, though he is fine doing so out of the limelight, instead in the comfort of local skating rinks.

Cooper utilizes Ethan Health— a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited addiction recovery provider specializing in substance addiction treatment— and NuHealth to reach his goals. He attributes a combination of mental health resources, a lack of social media, and continuing physical fitness to his success in avoiding addictive vices.

He had sage advice for those currently suffering from addiction. "Know that you have a voice and that you're not alone. There are resources that you can utilize all over."

Cooper hopes to be a resource to the community and expressed that he hopes to work with some of the organizations that helped him in his journey.

To contact Cory about volunteer peer support and speaking opportunities, reach out to him at corycooper0409@gmail.com.