Hello, my name is Ashley Ciccone. I graduated from class 27. I have decided to go back to high school and get my diploma. I graduate with my class. 2009:) I decide to write the story I wrote in English 12 today, to let you know that how Commonwealth challenge program changed my entire life. Commonwealth Challenge knows i would do anything to come back too.

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Today, July 21, 2007, is the day I say goodbye to my parents. I lied, stole, and deceived my parents. In tears I was there standing hugging my father as he said, “I don’t  want me to take this as a punishment, but to intake everything I am about to learn.” He handed me his dog tags and said, “If I ever feel like giving up or homesick to hold these dog tags.” As drops of tears fall down upon my eye I don’t want to let go but I won’t see my parents for another six months. I have never been away from home before.  I knew even though I was going to military school I was going to miss my parents.

It’s been days and I’m so irritated.  I have to wake up every morning at four A.M. I mean we wake up before the sun even rises. I hate my parents so much. Why would they send me to this horrible place where they constantly yell and make us exercise all the time? How is this ever going to teach me a lesson?  I just don’t quite understand. I am going to do what I’m told though so I don’t get screamed at. I just wanted to give up and go home! I didn’t care anymore. I wanted to see my friends. I missed my cell phone. I could care less about what I have done or even who I have hurt.

They seem to give us lots of time to think here and to bore us to death. Suddenly the cadre says “Cadet Ciccone.” I am terrified of why my name came up. I am thinking here we go again with the exercises once again. Then SGT. Nash hands me my first letter. I am surprised my parents would even write me. In this letter they say  that they are proud of me & said this is the first step of me changing. They say most kids my age wouldn’t take the opportunity to change their current environment.  This gives me the motivation to not only attempt everything but to excel in everything I am faced with.  Nothing is stopping me! I thought why not only change, but  go above and beyond.

 Six months is almost here. YES! I finally get to come home, but really I am nervous.  Apparently I have changed. I eat, sleep, and interact differently. I even changed my surroundings completely. It’s like I have been programmed into this new person. My old friends who wrote me  told me I was giving in but I finally said I am changing for the better and if you’re not going to support me stop writing me. I have accomplished a lot. Even though I haven’t seen my parents I know they are proud. I have learned discipline, integrity, how to be a follower but a leader too, How to stand up & be myself.

The cadre tore me up and I found me. I learned to respect authority.  I was not trying to be something that I wasn’t. I lied persistently, stole without caring, and I snuck out disobeying my parents.  I didn’t want to be that person anymore. I didn’t want to see my mommy cry ever again because she didn’t know what to do. I can’t ever go back to my old ways. It constantly comes to mind. My parents didn’t deserve everything I ever put them though. That was my changing point in my life when I finally I was not only putting myself though this pain. My parents, my family were affected as well.

Now I inspire others! Everyone makes mistakes, but it is our choice to change our ways. I choose to make a change for my entire life. I gave up my old atmosphere. The people I use to associate myself with. My everyday life is the latest lessons I have learned. My atmosphere was totally flipped around. I volunteered to attend military school, to make a change.  The characteristics I have learned are making me a new person that my parents are going to be proud of. Even simple as to say that’s my daughter on that stage with a tear in their eye. "

Now i am back in high school because i really want my high school diploma. I passed everything but the science part on my GED. I plan on attending VMI and getting my bachelors degree and join the army. With that i will become an officer in the army. HORRAHH!!! Not only that i plan on still attending school and one day become an oncoligist. For those who don't know what that is, this is someone who studies and finds the cure to cancer. Challenge flipped my whole life around, I am on the right path.  When my parents dent me to the challenge i hated them, but did I not know how much they really care and love me. Now I do nothing, but put smiles on there faces. I work everyday when i get out of school. I cant wait to see my parents watch me go across the stage knowing i worked for my diploma. I have big plans i never knew who I could be or what i could become. Challenge taught me that I need to aim high and try the hardest for it. Not to give up because if you do you affect others around you.                               

 Thank you to:

MY PARENTS:: who always believed in me when i didn't believe in myself.

Everyone at the challenge :you guys really make lots of impacts on people