I have been a resident at the Boys Ranch for eight years. I remember just like it was yesterday. I was a fourteen-year old boy facing several challenges in life. I remember just lying in bed my first night there thinking about where my life was headed and the hardships I had been through. I remember asking God why He took my mom from me, and why He gave me a father that was a drug addict that wanted nothing to do with me, and why was He making me go through the things I was going through. I remember just praying and asking God to please give me a better life. Well, what I didn’t realize was, God answered that prayer before I even asked it, by putting me at the Boys Ranch. I realized God knew what was best for me all along. I remember being so upset and wanting to leave and go back home to be with my family. But then one day I realized that was not going to happen and that there was nothing I could do about it. I thought to myself that this place could be the miracle I need in my life. So, I decided to give it a chance and see what it was all about. Well, I am happy to say that I did. The Ranch has done so many things to help me focus my life on being a kind, respectable person that everyone enjoys being around.
My first year at the Ranch, I struggled with following the rules and obeying. I remember spending many weekends and an entire summer doing yard work with Mr. Shaun as punishment. I am proud to say that I am so thankful for that, because it has played a big part in making me who I am today.
One of the biggest things that I struggled with before I arrived at the Ranch was school. Once I lost my mom, I didn’t care about school and let my grades drop down to failing. When I moved to the Ranch, they got me the academic help that I needed and kept me from failing to passing the eighth grade with honors, all within one semester. Once I did that, I realized anything is possible if I just put my mind to it, so I went on to high school with that attitude. In high school, I received several awards and honors and scholarships, and was able to build relationships and friendships with some wonderful people. One of the biggest awards that I achieved was during my senior year, when I was chosen out of almost 4,000 students to receive the Most Improved Student award. I graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA.
Since graduating high school, I have gone on to attend Valdosta State University to pursue a Master’s degree in criminal justice. I am currently a junior with only three semesters remaining. In college I have received several wonderful opportunities and awards, including making the president’s list and the president’s list in the National Honor Society. I never even thought of those awards before, much less achieving them.
One of the opportunities that I received was being able to go to my high school and work for an amazing boss. I also had the opportunity to become a volunteer firefighter. That’s wonderful to me because I get to do what I love most, and that is being a first responder, helping people and saving lives. I plan to continue to be a volunteer firefighter until I graduate, then it is back on the road to finish chasing my dream job: to be a field agent in the FBI.
I owe a special thank you to Sheriff Ashley Paulk. Sheriff Paulk has given me the opportunity to do my internship for school with his office. I have been able to work with some of the best law enforcement officers and learn so many things. The experience I have received from my internship has helped me succeed in school and pass my major classes with an A. I will never have enough words to describe how thankful I am for the opportunity Sheriff Paulk has given me.
If it wasn’t for all of the sheriffs and all of the supporters of the Youth Homes, graduating high school and going to college, and all of the awards and accomplishments and opportunities that I have received would just be a dream. And kids like me would never have a chance at life, so I thank you for all you do!