Meth to Masters
Biography of Bonnie Laabs

As a professional speaker, Bonnie draws from years of experience working with youth and young adults and shares practical guidance with a “been there, done that” approach. She encourages her audience to become whoever they want to be by making good choices while pointing out that “who you become depends on the choices you make”.

Struggling to overcome several challenging obstacles in her childhood by fifth grade, Bonnie started acting out and was expelled from school. Two years later problems at home resulted in Bonnie being sent to a group home for girls. She felt condemned being labeled a “bad kid” and continued traveling down the wrong path using alcohol and drugs. In a desperate attempt to turn her life around, a revelation occurred that inspired her to make solid choices in a positive direction. She now serves as a Youth Minister in Burnsville, Minnesota. Other positive choices Bonnie has made since then: she recently earned a Master’s degree in Education Administration and currently owns two small businesses.

“It is my greatest privilege to give back to the people that made differences in my life, the people that loved me when I was the toughest to love. Because positive people in my life - foster parents, counselors, teachers, etc. - wouldn’t let me give up, I finally believed I could actually make something of my life if only I made good choices.

It is an even greater privilege to inspire teenagers with my story. My life ambition is to share my experiences with the kids, letting them know they are not alone. I care about them and I want them to understand loud and clear they can get out of the negative situations they are in by making positive choices. We all know that deep down kids aren’t bad; it’s their choices that are bad.

I want to empower the kids and support those people who nurture them by telling them to keep loving, keep modeling, keep persevering and never give up. Hope is one choice away.” — Bonnie