“Life is like a train, and sometimes it might derail. It might be going in the opposite direction, but it’s never too late to get the train going on the right path again.” Chelsea Peterman’s journey is a testament to that truth. Realizing she had veered off course, she made the bold decision to turn her life around and work toward becoming the person she knew she was meant to be.

   Peterman grew up in what she describes as “less than ideal childhood” circumstances. Having gone through foster care and adoption, she never truly found her place in a challenging environment, and her struggles deepened as she entered her teenage years.

   By the time she reached her sophomore year of high school, her life began to derail. “I started to get in with the wrong crowd. Started vaping and ended up dropping out of school after my sophomore year,” Peterman said.

   Though she began her junior year through an online program, Peterman’s motivation quickly waned. Without the structure or drive to keep up with her studies, she abandoned her schoolwork altogether. Instead, she turned to smoking marijuana, drinking, and living with friends. She also found herself in constant trouble, often running from the police. “I was reported as a runaway more times than I can count,” Peterman said.

   Deputy Ben Norris had grown accustomed to Peterman and her schemes. He had been to her house half a dozen times, often bringing her back after she had run away or was found at someone else’s home. Through these encounters, he became familiar with her tactics—one of which was sneaking out of her bedroom window to escape. Norris, who had seen this pattern before, recalls the frustration he felt. “I knew that she was just gonna leave again… I went and parked my car down the road from her house.” A few minutes later, he saw her jump out of the window. “It was almost like a built-up frustration,” Norris said, because he knew it wouldn’t get her anywhere.

   Despite this, Norris believed there was potential for change. “Maybe she just needed something to be like, ‘Hey, I need to get my stuff together,’” he said. With that in mind, he decided to have a heartfelt conversation with her, hoping his words would resonate. For a while, there was little interaction between them, but Peterman’s struggles continued.

   Peterman, too, had long believed that turning her life around was impossible—until an encounter with another officer. “Hey, there’s this program called the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy,” the officer said. Those simple words stuck with Peterman, planting a seed of possibility that would grow into something far more significant.

  Three months later, after being away from home for nine months, Peterman returned for the first time in under a year. She was determined to make a change. “I’m going to get up and get my life together,” she promised herself, and this time, she followed through. Last year, she applied to the Academy and was accepted.

   The Academy began on January 14, 2024, and Peterman completed the program by graduation in July. Just six weeks later, she enrolled at Kellogg Community College through Michigan Job Challenge Program. On Friday, December 13, 2024, Peterman proudly graduated as a certified EMT. Now, she plans to pursue a job at a hospital while working toward earning her driver’s license.

   “She’s excelling,” said Norris. “She’s not just doing it, she’s excelling.”

   Ironically, as much as Peterman once ran from the police, it was two officers who ultimately helped her find a new path forward.

   “It wasn’t always easy,” Peterman said of her journey. Despite the obstacles, she managed to earn her diploma on time, even though she had once been a high school dropout. “It honestly just takes that one decision to choose to change your life around,” she said.

   Norris considers Peterman’s transformation like a feel-good story, one that proves change is possible. “It’s one of those stories that you’re like, people need to know this can happen,” he said. “Being on that stage with her during graduation was probably one of the best moments of my career because it happened. It worked.”

   Peterman has a different perspective on life now, one that’s shaped by her journey of resilience. “People like to say you only live once,” she said. However, she sees it differently: “You only die once, you live every day.”