How 154 Days Changed My Sons Life

My post has little to do with real estate....but then again,  it has a lot to do with real estate and the way my focus changed a bit these past 6 months.  Perhaps by reading this post it could change yours.

Last May our family held our own version of INTERVENTION.  You know, the television show where a family meets with a troubled family member and challenges that family member to change his or her life.  That is exactly what we did.

My son, a junior in high school was about to close out the school year on a failing note. He had already been removed from the varsity basketball team because of bad grades....and he was an exceptional athlete.  If we would have done nothing I am convinced he would have dropped out.  No drugs or alcohol, but a young man who just was not able to conform to the normal high school classroom.  He was failing and we knew we had to do something.

I heard about a program that I believe is available in some 22 states called YOUTH CHALLENGE.  In our case, the Oregon Youth Challenge Program is administered through the Department of Defense, The Oregon National Guard, The State of Oregon and our local school district. 

This program open's it's doors to youth who have dropped out of school and ask for one last chance to succeed. My son was surrounded by young men and women, ages 15-19 who had been in gangs, used drugs and alcohol, been involved in crime, been at odds with their families and had been unable to succeed in the traditional school room. 

The program operates with a military style discipline and structure.  The first two weeks of the program are called "Pre Challenge" and are filled with intense physical "boot camp" like training and behavior modification.  We were told that it was likely that each of our kids would call home and beg to come back home.  We were told to not allow them to do so.  I did not receive a call....but I was prepared to say no, if I would have gotten the call from my son, Tony.

For 22 weeks the youth were not allowed to fail.  The classroom teachers require a minimum score of 80% on all classwork before a student can move forward.  And they do.  Most achieve a 3.0 grade point average and above. There is no television, computer games, radio, music and the kids live on site and are only able to return home for brief holiday visitations. At the facility the youth are required to follow orders, address their superiors as "sir" or "maam," and have a strict schedule to follow from morning to night.  There is no nonsense, period.  The class started with some 170 cadets and ended with just over 120.

The 22 week period was life changing for both my Son and our family.  He returned home just three days ago with set goals and headed in the right direction.  My son, who could barely achieve a 2.0 in regular high school graduated with a 3.7 and is so full of confidence and a feeling of achievement that nothing can stop him!  His next step is going back to his high school, completing just 1/2 hour of English to graduate with a high school diploma and then entrance into a univeristy or the marine corps.

My son was lost and now is found.  If you have a child, relative or friend who has been heading in the wrong direction in a traditional school setting I encourage you to look into this program where you live.  If you go to www.oycp.com you will be able to find information on the states who offer this incredible program.  If you have any questions I welcome your call and answer any questions that you have.

Oh, by the way....my son is the tall one without his cap on in a picture taken just before graduation