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Stephanie Pokorney
Anaheim, CA.
devonlove26@yahoo.com
About 4 years ago I attended Cross Creek Manor in the town
of LaVerkin, Utah. I am 20 years old now, and doing very
well. I live on my own, have a full time job as a waitress,
and a great relationship with my parents. However, I attribute
none of my success to Cross Creek.
I was sent to Cross Creek for abusing drugs and failing
some high school classes. My parents had told me we were
going on "vacation"; it was about two weeks before
my sweet 16th birthday. After we had been in the car for
about 2 hours, my mom finally admitted they were taking me
to a "school".
How bad could it be?
When I arrived, the heavy door was locked behind me and
all my belongings taken away. The staff was rude and tough,
and I knew right away that this wasn't just a boarding school.
My experience at Cross Creek was extremely depressing, lonely,
and intense for someone my age. I saw and heard things that
haunt me to this day. I saw one of my good friends trying
to jump over the balcony, screaming that she wanted to die.
There was never a day I did not cry, or see someone else
cry.
Many girls were "cutters", and would find anything
sharp enough to slice their wrists. When they did so, when
they were "bad", they were thrown in the isolation
rooms.
The worst part was how alone I felt. None of the staff seemed
to truly care about us. It was their job, and we were treated
like prisoners.
When I tell my friends that have been to Juvenile Hall about
it, they say Cross Creek Manor sounds worse!
Everybody I attended school with was afraid of the head
man at Cross Creek. He would get in your face, and scream
obscenities at us. Every new girl got it as their welcome.
It was so demeaning, I don't know how they honestly think
the treatment there helps.
My mom knows that Cross Creek was not the right place for
me, now. I had to go through my experiences myself and learn
that way. I don't know how to possibly explain how horrible
I think that place is,
I try to block it out of my mind.
I would never, ever recommend for any parent to rely on
Cross Creek to "save" their kid, and I feel sorry
for any and every kid in there.
If you would like to contact me, my name is Stephanie and
I am at xux96grl@yahoo.com.
Thank you!!
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