As a parent, it is extremely humiliating and discouraging when you have a child, who has such great potential, but is constantly making poor life choices. One who is on a path of self destruction and is in jeopardy of dropping out of high school his Junior year. One who resists all opportunities to succeed and has parents who have tried every avenue available to help them with no avail.
Our son, Devin, is the child we are talking about! Devin was on the path of self-destruction. Something in Devin clicked at which time he knew great changes needed to made within himself. The constant skipping of school (which reflected on his report card straight D's F's), lying, being disrespectful to authority, sneaking out of the house at all hours of the night, experimenting with alcohol etc., to name a few, was getting him nowhere except in a lot of trouble and he knew it! Once he realized this, he decided to make a change in his life!
Devin approached us mid-December about enrolling himself into the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program. Upon investigating this residential military 5- month school, we allowed Devin to fill out the application for entrance. As parents, we knew that Devin really needed this extremely structured lifestyle in order to turn his life around. Obviously, what we had been trying just wasn't working.
We are proud to say that Devin was accepted into this program on January 14, 2005.
Our only way of communication with Devin is via mail. We receive and send letters daily. Through Devin's writing, we could see great changes transforming within himself. Hope was in the future!
On March 3rd, 05, Devin, as well as the other youths, were allowed to come home for a four-day visit. We were so excited to actually see him after almost a month and a half. Upon our arrival, we witnessed a young man with respect, dignity and a positive outlook on life. We are proud to say that now academically Devin is now in the top five percentile of his class and will be graduating a year early, with honors, and a high school diploma come June. He has made platoon leader, was chosen to sit on the advisory board and has been chosen for special community service projects to name a few. He has accomplished so much in such a short time span, and we could not be more proud of him. This program has shown Devin that if you work hard, you will succeed! We have also been rewarded by the huge changes that we have witnessed.
John Jersey & Shawn Luke, Oregon
