Post-Residential Success Stories
Graduate Charly Collins Hey, my name is Charly Collins, I was 16 when I went to this Academy and I just wanted to say I loved it and it changed my life for ever. I went from a bad kid that smoked and hated school to a good kid that loved school and was on yearbook, weightlefting team, silent drill team, and leader. I'm very greatful to all of the staff that was their in 2003 and to the staff now. I'm glad to see its still open. I hope I can come and visit some time again. Maybe see some old faces. I do miss all the staff and hope for the best for everyone. Maybe the class and staff of 2003 can get together one day!!!!
I am writing to say THANK YOU to everyone at the MYCA. My son, Cadet Keith graduated just a few short weeks ago!
He did fine throughout the entire class 18 course. Travis loves the structure that the Academy provided him, he responds the best to that. He (as well as the rest of us) are having a bit of a time readjusting to him being home. He has said outright, that he would prefer being at the Academy, just because he misses it there, and that same structure will never be here at home. So, he is enlisting in the military, that will be his best solution to this problem.
When Travis went into the Academy, he was so far behind in school, and he was loosing hope and confidence in himself. While in the Academy, he has found both. He has learned many many things about himself and he has a new confidence.
At the moment he is working 7 days a week and doing community service as well as working with his mentor with his business. So Travis does not sit around waiting for the next program to come on TV any longer. He gets busy and stays busy. It's so nice to see him making a goal and reaching it.
This Academy was an answer to prayer, and like I said at the beginning, I want to thank EVERYONE at the Academy. The Cadre, the teachers, the Commanders, ie.... EVERYBODY who cared enough to invest THEIR OWN TIME AND EFFORT into my son. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
written by the very proud mom of
Cadet Travis Keith
Crystal
Newspaper Article
Hello My Name Is Jeff Jarrell and i went to the MYCA. I graduated from Class 12. I had just turned 17 and had nothing going on in my life. I went in Jan. at 305lbs and lost 60lbs during the 6 months of time. I Joined the United States Army and am currently in Afghanistan and will be returning home soon. I Just wanted to give a thank you for everything and good luck to future Cadets. I will be stopping by soon to see everyone I really am glad I made the choice to go the experience is something I will never forget. All the cadre who helped me, Thank you for everything.
Graduate Reynolds Cycle 12
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I just wanted to let you all know how I am doing seeing as how I haven't made any contact with the Academy since graduation
In a way I feel as though I've failed bacause not even a week after graduation I started up on my old habits again. I spent 6 months lieing, stealing, cutting and being drunk all the time. Everynight I would look in the mirror and tell myself how horrible of a person I was for letting my time at the Academy be pushed away like that. So I decided to do something about it, I got another job, drinking and whenever I started to feel really bad I would go for a run and think about why I went to the Academy in the first place, to become something other than what people expected, to prove that I was different from the rest of my family, to make something of myself.
I still struggle with an eating disorder, I still have thoughts about harming myself, but thanks to the Academy I have an outlet, I look at my yearbook and I think about my experiences at the academy the good times and the bad, and I thank god for them all.
Currently I am unemployed, but searching for a job, my boyfriend, Tad Birdsall, is in Iraq, we are going to Texas when he gets home in six months, and then coming back to Michigan when his time in the Army ends.
It's not easy having him gone and I worry about him every minute, my home life isn't the greatest right now but all I can do is take it one day at a time.
I would love to come to the Academy and see some of the cadre before I go to Texas, if they will have me.
And I would love to hear how some of the other cadets are doing since graduation day, it doesn't matter what cycle you were in.
Just remember that life isn't always a bed of roses, no one is perfect and everyone slips and falls sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and brush it off, and go on with your life. Thanks to the Academy I am alive today and thanks to them I will be alive tomorrow but it's up to each individual to make today and tomorrow count as more than just another day.
From: Terry Horton
Posted: 2004-06-10 09:06:59
Subject: New Post
Residence State: MI
To anyone parent who is considering this program for their teen or for any teen looking for an answer, MYC is it. My oldest son Dwight Horton is a graduate summer 2000 graduate of MYC as Co. Commander. He was hesitant to enroll, but says it was the best thing he ever did. He loved it!! He was a high school dropout heading for trouble. He is now a specialist in the 3rd Infantry/US Army,heading to Sgt. school and was just nomminated as soldier of the month.He is getting ready for his second trip to Iraq. We often talk about where he might be had he not gone to MYC and it probably wouldn't have been good.In fact I came to the website today to enroll my 15 yr old for the Jan.2005 session. If anyone would like to talk to me as a parent or Dwight as a student we would love to talk to you.
From: William Moran
Posted: 2005-04-21 16:53:49
Subject: New Post 16:53:02
Residence State: MI
