Our grandson…spent January to June in 2017 at your Academy. What a changed, adult man he has become in a year. He was up for a family reunion shortly after graduating from your academy last June, 2017. He was a delight then but we weren’t 100% sure he had changed for the better although he was proud that he stuck it out even though he almost quit a couple of times.
It was a tough go back home in Boise/Nampa area. In spite of the mentor not working out and his home life hadn’t changed, he made up his mind to go it alone with the help of his sister who was only 2 years older. Their Mom (our daughter) had died the year before. He got a job at a Taco place, graduated from high school with a 3.4 grade point- 2018.. I think he became more determined than ever. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and he and his sister were back up for another reunion….He has clear life plans, joined the National Guard and is doing his basic training now in Georgia for 3 months. No more drugs. He laughs and tells tall stories. He plans to get an education in the military and at the end of the day hopes to be a military firefighter or a civil firefighter. His mother would be so proud of him. She was a firefighter also.
If he hadn’t been able to attend your Academy, he would be selling drugs or in jail by now. As each day goes by I am sure he appreciates your Academy more and more and realizes it was the chance of a lifetime for him. We, his grandparents, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.