A SUWS Student's Journal

David, Florida, Age 14

Excerpt 1

"____, I hate this. When I get home, I'm going to kill my dad for sending me here. I have too many days to go. We really are in the middle of nowhere,"

Excerpt 3

"When we first started today's hike, I right away began to think why I'm here. I feel kind of stupid to admit this, but I am really glad that I got sent here."

Excerpt 5

"It is unbearable to be away from my dad. All I ever think about is how I want to be home with him."

Excerpt 6

"Not having the urge for a cigarette feels so incredibly good. I don't want to ever have one again."

Excerpt 7

"I'm really glad my dad sent me here. Oh, I figured out today that he sent me to SUWS to regain my ground and get control of my life. He's not going to; he wants me to, and believe me, I am. I have so much that I want to accomplish."

Excerpt 11

"Mmm, these raisins feel really good on my teeth."

Excerpt 12

"We just finished working on our fires. I try real hard, get tired fast, and yet am the only one who hasn't even had a coal yet. I want to try a different kind of spindle. A sage spindal, I believe, would work better for me. Of all the others, I just haven't had the success yet. It feels so good to be more confident about myself. I'm not as worried about not getting out of here."

Excerpt 14

"Oh, man, I'm so incredibly happy! I just got my fire - what a feat! I knew I needed a different spindle. This place isn't so bad. It teaches you a lot about yourself. If I hadn't come here my life would be screwed up pretty bad."

Excerpt 16

"This is going by real fast, and soon I'll be able to see my dad. Oh, how I miss my dad! I hope everything goes okay for the rest of the people here."

Excerpt 20

"After figuring out all of your feelings, you get time to put them in order, and most of all, figure out the rest of your life. My life - I actually smile a little when I say that now. Without the help of this program, myself, my dad, well, I don't even want to talk about it. Oh, one last thing. Two last things. It's not very cold out, surprisingly, and I love you, Dad. Very much."

"I went through this program about two years ago. I was in such a horrible place in my life when my parents finally sent me to this and I praise you guys and think so highly of everyone that works for and with this organization! I now am going to one of the most well known fashion school in the country and have turned my world around. The experience and the growth I made out there was an experience I will never forget and will always be so happy that I went through."

~SUWS Student

SUWS employees are guided by the principles: Youth and Family, Growth, Teamwork, and Service

A program of Aspen Education Group serving at-risk youth for over 20 years