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LETTERS FROM CURRENT & FORMER
WWASP STUDENTS
(The following were provided by Teen Help Adolescent Resources, 435-628-0400, headquartered
in St. George, Utah, sent to Woodbury Reports Inc. in December, 1998. They certify these
are reprints of actual letters of students who have attended the programs Teen Help is affiliated with.)
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I am a former student of Tranquility Bay,
The program brought amazing results to my life! Before I went there, I was into drugs, drinking, I failed the 10th grade, attempted
suicide, and hated myself and life! I was on a road to hell. Now after being home for two months, I see how different my life is. I
gained so much from the program and it literally saved my life! While I was in Jamaica at Tranquility Bay, it was hard, adjusting
to all the changes. Being in a third world country was not what I was used to, but I quickly realized how much I took for granted back
at home. I gained so much strength from going through it all and you hardly will hear me complain anymore! Now people can look into
my eyes and see the real me! I have this glow about me now. I'm glad I got sent there, if not I would be either dead, or living on the
streets.
Now I am in my Senior year, planning on getting straight A's. I'm taking a college class, and I'm planning for my future. I definitely
like where I'm headed.
Love,
Sarah
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My name is Angie and I am a graduate of the Teen Help program. Hell
is when you're trapped in a life of drugs, stealing and lies and no matter what you don't even feel the pain anymore because you're
stoned most of the time. That's how my life was and on December 12, 1996, I got another chance at life. I was sent to a Teen Help Program
and today I'm so thankful for the year I spent there. If I had never gone I would be dead right now if I hadn't gone to the program
and was still alive I would probably be in jail. The program helped me be the person I am today. I've come a long way!
I was in the Cross Creek program (based in LaVerkin, Utah) for 15 months.
I was escorted there on April 13, 1997, just four months before my 18th birthday, and at the time, I couldn't wait to turn 18 and walk
out the door. When I went into the program, I was physically, emotionally, and mentally very unhealthy.
Experimenting with drugs and starving myself, my body weight had dropped to below 90 pounds. I dropped out of school and ran away with
my "boyfriend", who was a 26 year old drug dealer, and we were living in a trailer which barely had electricity and running
water. Every time I "came down" from the drugs and went to sleep, I woke up miserable, not wanting to live and not
wanting to die. I had completely lost myself, and the more attempts I made to find myself, the further I drifted. I had absolutely no
relationships with my mother, father, and older sister, and I pushed them away and wouldn't even speak to them.
This program saved my life! If I felt mistreated, or saw any of the other girls being mistreated, I never would haven chosen to stay
past my 18th birthday. What I did experience was an environment of tough love where I was held accountable for my actions and rewarded
accordingly for my integrity. I had many wonderful opportunities for leadership and growth. I had the chance to deal with many pressing
emotional issues, and I had the most wonderful opportunity to attend very special seminars with my parents where I made amends, forgave
myself, and learned healthy ways of communicating with my family. There have been many success stories of kids that have graduated from
any of the six locations of the program, and I am one of them! I graduated from high school, and I graduated from the program on Level
Six. This was a huge accomplishment for me because I have been known throughout my life to start many things and never finish anything.
The program is not "perfect", but it is my experience that nothing is "perfect". It is excellent, and changes are
constantly being made to better the environment and program.
I hope that you will take into consideration what I have written. I will never forget Cross Creek and all that it has given me. I have
a passion for life that I haven't had since I was a small child. I am alive today because my parents sent me to this program and I saw
reality and chose to stay.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Katie
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I am enrolled in Cross Creek Manor, one of the Teen Help programs.
I didn't have drug issues nor was I violent. This program is not a place where parents go for the first attempt of saving their child.
I was very suicidal and was playing with death and extremely depressed. At 17 I was skating on the thin ice. I had been in two programs
before Cross Creek and nothing had changed. So in October '97 my family and I made the decision. I knew that I was in too far and I
wanted a way out. I know that the day my father dropped me off in LaVerkin, Utah was one of the worst days of his life!! He felt
as a parent he had failed. But we all knew that my life was at stake. Now 10 months in the program, I will be graduating with a 3.4
GPA and have an inner peace of self-respect and confidence. I turned 18 in the program and chose to stay. I knew that Cross Creek was
a heaven sent to me and my family.
This program teaches you about a word called ACCOUNTABILITY!! Your program is what you make it - you can make it "Camp Fear"
or you can make some choices that work. The seminars are hard and they do push us, but the feeling when you complete on is a feeling
that is unmatched by anything else in this world. I have never met a more loving and dedicated group of people in my life.
Love,
Pauli |
