I am very pleased with the TYA program. My son has changed in so many ways, for the better. One of the impressive things about TYA is the life skills that are taught. I believe kids need to have goals. They need to know how to live in the real world. Balancing checkbooks, managing bills, applying for jobs and such. Public schools are not teaching these things. In public school you have your basic classes. There is no self disipline taught, or self esteem building skills. There is not any job shadowing, or practice interviews. At TYA it seems that the kids learn to appreciate things we normally take for granted in life, like T.V., fast food, not having rules,and privacy. I want to say thank you TYA!! I am very pleased in the changes I have seen in my son, and also in myself through this experience. It has all been worth it. The tears, the worrying, the tension of not seeing him for so long. I only wish that kids did not have to be a highschool dropouts to attend. I would love for my other children to experience what he has.
Thunderbird Youth Academy
Oklahoma
Our mission is to provide work skills and alternative learning opportunities to meet the unique individuals needs of students in order to increase positive behavioral and academic skills.
Comments
i would like to add that
i would like to add that these children need guidance after the graduation process because it is difficult when they come home. their friends are still there the problems are still there this isnt a fix all program. My daughter graduated and dispite all my efforts the situations are still there and no matter what she is still drawn to them. Not as much as before but it is still there do not let them get comfortable when they come home make sure they are still active in their goal pursuit. dont let them get bored because the attitude has changed and you feel more comfortable because the bad things are still there
I SO TOTALLY AGREE! My son
I SO TOTALLY AGREE! My son attended the Oregon Youth Challenge Program a few years ago. It was tough and he still made some bad choices right after but all he learned there truly stayed with him. He is in Iraq now as he decided to join the Army and leave the wrong association and habits for good. He is the only one of my kids (so far) who understands basic financial concepts and he is very careful with his money.
I too wish they did not have to be a drop out; my 15 1/2 yr old daughter is starting to associate with others who have gang connections. She would love to go to this program but has great grades. Although, if she continues with her current trend, it is my experience that one of the first very notable changes will be the grades dropping. Pray she just pulls out of it soon; doing all I can but she has to want to make the change for herself. Not sure any amount of consequences I try will work; it didn't with her older brothers.
Well, maybe they can change the guidelines for acceptance in the future. I would totally support it.
I'm confused as to why
I'm confused as to why parents think that their child has to already be a "drop-out"? My daughter was struggling in many ways; getting kicked off of her volleyball team for a bad attitude (after being benched many times prior to this final decision), getting suspended for arguing with the teacher, principal, counselor (three times in 2 months = 13 days!), and this was after she had already had a ridiculous number of detentions and in-house suspensions.....had gotten fired from a couple of jobs, and of course - giving me lots of attitude & grief at home. She was bitter, uncooperative, and everything was everyone else's fault. She had excuses for everything & took zero responsibility for anything she failed at. This had all kind of snow-balled over the last couple of years - just becoming more intense and more frequent. My daughter was making my & my son's life just miserable. There was so much tension & hostility in the house. I had tried everything; got involved with church a few years back, volunteering (both of us) for Habitat for Humanity several times during these years, and us feeding the homeless at Iron Gate on a regular basis. She was going to church camp, and doing the ropes course....she finally started counseling/therapy and got on medication. She has a great heart and a beautiful soul....and would help anyone in need. It's just the stresses of life... the homework load, the social clicks (not having the right car, or clothing, or house with a pool, or getting invited to certain parties or having the quarter back boyfriend, & all of the gossip & lies!) that got her to this point of dealing with every person & situation in life - with this tough attitude. She either had to be tough, or the world was going to eat her alive if she let these things get to her. The frustration built up and she was just angry all of the time.....with the occasional bout of crying -when she was just tired of being tough. I looked into several options - but unless your child is suicidal, or threatening someone else's life.....or addicted to a drug/alcohol - they won't accept them. Thunderbird seemed to have the program we needed, but her grades were average & she was passing everything. When she agreed to go, and they accepted her, we just "dropped" her from enrollment at her high school a couple of weeks before the Jan. 09 session started. She is allowed to take on-line courses to earn High School credits through the Distance Learning classes through OU. When she graduates TYA, she will have a couple of months for a great summer, and then begin her Senior year back at her old high school. She will have the discipline, maturity, desire & sense of responsibility to then have a productive school year, & then onto 4 yrs. of college (since we already have the Oklahoma promise set up/enrollment from 2 yrs. ago). I hope this helps those of you wanting to have your child attend TYA for the great transformation it creates within them - but still allowing them to complete traditional high school so that the college scholarships don't void. God Bless!
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