Graduate Uriah - Class #27, Cycle 1-06

My Hero

It’s hard growing up in the times we live in but it’s even harder when you grow up in a single parent home. In single parent homes life is a struggle when there is never enough money and you forfeit the luxuries you desire. My son like a lot of young men/women can testify to this way of life. He grew up without the morale or financial support of a father. It can lead to the frustration of our youth and my son was no exception. He was mad at the world and seemed determined to let everyone around him know how miserable and unhappy he was.

During his freshman year of high school he went from being an A+ student to a failing one. He started skipping school and finally dropped out when he realized he was so far behind he would have to be held back to repeat a grade. He started acting out, being rude and disrespectful to those he loved. He started feeling depressed and came to the point where he just didn’t care about anything. We had argument after argument about his slacker attitude. I knew this moody, hateful and hurtful kid was not the son I had raised to be respectful of others and to achieve his dreams. I knew this was a kid that needed more help than I could give him to get his self confidence back up and motivate him to do something about his current situation.

I researched every program I could find for kids with behavioral problems and after making thousands of phone calls [it seemed] I was at the end of my rope because either the program was geared towards kids with drug problems leading to behavioral problems or they were so expensive there was no way I could afford to enroll my son in the program. I finally came across Thunderbird Youth Academy’s website so I checked it out. I was impressed and hopeful that this Youth Challenge Program sponsored by the National Guard was what my son needed.

My son and I discussed the Youth ChalleNGe Program and I enrolled him after he agreed to participate. He was accepted into cycle 27-06 to begin his “rehabilitation” as I call it. He and I weren’t exactly sure of what to expect but I knew he was willing to try this in order to change his life around and that in itself was a great thing to me.

I didn’t hear from him for a while but when we started writing letters he seemed to be doing pretty good. We started working to improve our mother-son relationship which I was happy about. Things were great until the first weekend pass came and during his time at home he was again this sour face, disrespectful, and rude kid. I was ready to tear my hair out and was extremely disappointed in him and this program. I believe I had even posted a message on the bulletin board in regards to this matter. The staff responded back to me and let me know what to expect and to give him time to adjust which I later looked back and realized they knew what they were doing and I was just a frustrated mom who expected a miracle in a few weeks.

After we got past the first week end pass I started seeing changes not only in our letters but during his phone calls home. When he had another opportunity to come home he was so much improved and I was relieved. He knew he wanted to do right and straighten up and he realized TYA was trying to help him to do that.

Through TYA he received his GED, learned valuable training skills, attended Rogers State College for college credit, made the Director/Commandant lists respectively, received the National Fitness Award twice, received the Presidential Fitness Award, and was awarded a $500 scholarship for his higher education. I was very proud of him and hoped he would continue to excel.

After Graduation he sort of fell back into a bad attitude but fortunately it didn’t last long and he picked himself up remembering what all he had accomplished while at TYA and obtained a full time job. Unfortunately he was laid off after a few months but he didn’t let that get him down. He had set goals for himself and he intended to achieve them.

He enlisted in the Army RC in July 2007 and left for Fort Sill, Oklahoma in August 2007 for his BCT [Basic Combat Training] where he was the only member of his platoon to have had any previous training. He wrote me a letter after his first week and told me that he was going to raise the bar high and show them what a real soldier was made of. His leadership and determination to truly be all he could be earned him the respect of his peers and Sergeants. He also became the Guide on Bearer for the 4th Platoon. [Ironically he was in the 4th Platoon at TYA as well] Other men in the platoon began seeking him out for guidance and advice on how to improve their own performance. He used his training he received at TYA to be a leader and a true example of overcoming obstacles. In his 2nd week of training he became ill and remained ill for 4 weeks of his training before he was finally sought healthcare and found that he had Pneumonia. During his illness he maintained his standard of excellence, continued his training with his platoon and finished each week’s training among the very top. During his final week of BCT training he was acknowledge as a top notch soldier who lead by example.

He could not have done this without the help of the Thunderbird Youth Academy Program and its staff. Talking to him now is like talking to a completely different person. My son’s attendance at TYA and his enlistment of the Army RC has really changed who he is and how he behaves. This is the son I knew he always was. He will complete AIT [Advanced Individual Training] at Fort Sill by Thanksgiving of 2007 and begin his freshman year of college at Seminole State. I have no doubt that my son will continue to succeed and have a bright successful future.

I am very proud of my son, PV2 Uriah Yahola, for overcoming the obstacles in his life to become a respectful confident soldier who is proud to serve his country.

He is my hero!
~Tracy L., October 2007