Tiffany entered Milestones Youth Home on May 8, 2007, about a week before her 17th birthday. When she first arrived, Tiffany struggled to adjust to the structure provided at the Youth Home. She resisted and argued, balked and protested. Even through this difficult transition, however, Tiffany demonstrated the ambition and initiative that distinguished her from many of our residents. She insisted that she wanted to obtain her GED, and she made a definitive plan to accomplish this objective. What made Tiffany different, what made her special, was her commitment to her goal. Many people talk about what they intend to do. Far fewer actually follow these words with action. Tiffany made her dreams a reality. Tiffany’s self-confidence wavered, but her desire to succeed never left. She told us that she simply was not “smart” enough to earn her GED. She had been out of school for some time, and she predictably struggled to complete the tests. We assured Tiffany that she could indeed pass the tests. To nobody’s surprise but her own, she received her GED.
After she attained her GED, Tiffany established a new goal. She wanted to attend Sheridan College. Again, Tiffany initiated the process, working with Melinda Dennington and our staff to sign up for classes and submit the necessary paperwork. As anyone who has attended college can attest, the bureaucracy involved can prove extremely confusing. Tiffany remained focused, again never allowing the daunting nature of this task to overwhelm her. Tiffany started classes this past fall, taking 12 credit hours. Tiffany discovered firsthand the perils of freshman biology, and she told us that she was going to fail the class. Many times, in fact. Through her hard work, however, she not only passed all of her other classes, she earned a “C” in biology, no small feat. That she did so while working at the Children’s Center and tutoring others in the SCOPE program made her efforts even more impressive.
Tiffany discharged from Milestones on January 18, 2008. Staff reflected that on the night that she arrived, we were unsure if Tiffany could maintain at Milestones. Tiffany was hostile, angry at the world for having to be in the Youth Home. Tiffany was even facing placement at the Girls School at one point. We gave her the opportunity to stay, and Tiffany took full advantage of this chance. We are so proud of what Tiffany has accomplished, and we encourage her to never stop believing in herself, in her own ability to make things happen. If she ever has any doubts, she only has to look back at the goals she had reached since that day last May.
Tiffany entered Milestones Youth Home on May 8, 2007, about a week before her 17th birthday. When she first arrived, Tiffany struggled to adjust to the structure provided at the Youth Home. She resisted and argued, balked and protested. Even through this difficult transition, however, Tiffany demonstrated the ambition and initiative that distinguished her from many of our residents. She insisted that she wanted to obtain her GED, and she made a definitive plan to accomplish this objective. What made Tiffany different, what made her special, was her commitment to her goal. Many people talk about what they intend to do. Far fewer actually follow these words with action. Tiffany made her dreams a reality. Tiffany’s self-confidence wavered, but her desire to succeed never left. She told us that she simply was not “smart” enough to earn her GED. She had been out of school for some time, and she predictably struggled to complete the tests. We assured Tiffany that she could indeed pass the tests. To nobody’s surprise but her own, she received her GED.
After she attained her GED, Tiffany established a new goal. She wanted to attend Sheridan College. Again, Tiffany initiated the process, working with Melinda Dennington and our staff to sign up for classes and submit the necessary paperwork. As anyone who has attended college can attest, the bureaucracy involved can prove extremely confusing. Tiffany remained focused, again never allowing the daunting nature of this task to overwhelm her. Tiffany started classes this past fall, taking 12 credit hours. Tiffany discovered firsthand the perils of freshman biology, and she told us that she was going to fail the class. Many times, in fact. Through her hard work, however, she not only passed all of her other classes, she earned a “C” in biology, no small feat. That she did so while working at the Children’s Center and tutoring others in the SCOPE program made her efforts even more impressive.
Tiffany discharged from Milestones on January 18, 2008. Staff reflected that on the night that she arrived, we were unsure if Tiffany could maintain at Milestones. Tiffany was hostile, angry at the world for having to be in the Youth Home. Tiffany was even facing placement at the Girls School at one point. We gave her the opportunity to stay, and Tiffany took full advantage of this chance. We are so proud of what Tiffany has accomplished, and we encourage her to never stop believing in herself, in her own ability to make things happen. If she ever has any doubts, she only has to look back at the goals she had reached since that day last May.