I went to rehab. 3 weeks, and my life changed. I was going to AA meetings and lived the 12 step way of life for years. Went to Uni, completed a degree, graduating too of my class, then onto another degree from which I have my career now. Huge huge changes from hitting that 'rock bottom'. I'd finally got to a place I was living the life I could previously only ever fantasies about - I was FREE.
It was years later, over a decade without being mentally unwell, that my city went though massive earthquakes, which triggered childhood based PTSD, and I've been struggling mentally ever since. One day I hope together back to feeling 'normal' again.
Where I live, if you don't commit any further criminal Offences in a 7 year period, you get a 'clean slate' - which means your record is sealed - exception being the police can access it and it has to be declared if travelling / visa / passport etc.
BUT when I needed to apply for admission to my current profession, it was 3 weeks short of the 7 years - so I had to declare my convictions - but, DESPITE my pretty serous criminal convictions, i was able to become the professional in a career I had always dreamed off, since a teenager.
I think most people do give 'second chances' and even if worse case scenario you (as in anyone) ended up with a record, it Isn't the end if the world. If you can show you've made changes in your life since, then it won't affect yr life going forward and doing whatever you want to do
Long story short - making mistakes in the past doesn't mean it has to ruin yr life forever
