by admin on August 30, 2009
By Pat C.
In life, the only thing that is guaranteed is change. Whether it is a person’s physical appearance or their outlook on life, human beings are constantly changing.
At the Family Foundation School students are sent to the school because their lives took a “turn for the worst” and their parents decided that a significant change was necessary if the student was going to live a healthy life.
When I was sent to The Family School my life was a mess; getting arrested, going to jail, relying on drugs to function, and treating my family horribly were events and characteristics that made up the lifestyle I was living one year ago.
After a short two-month wilderness experience I arrived at FFS willing to do whatever it took to change.
FFS offered me, as well as every other student, the opportunity to work a program known as the 12 Steps. Through helping me develop a spiritual life and accepting the fact that I am not the best at everything I do, the 12 Steps have shown me what type of person I really am.
I have to say that I am not completely changed or “healed” but I am okay with admitting that I am a person in recovery and I know that internal changes are occurring every day.
When students arrive at FFS they are upset, to say the least, when they realize they can no longer do whatever they want. For many, this change of environment is the most devastating thing to ever happen to them. But I am going to question that. Is your parents sending you to a place where you can get your life back on track a bad thing? I mean, yeah, it stinks that we can’t have cell phones and listen to the music we like, but is the loss of these material things something to be devastated about? We need to grow up and realize the opportunity we have been given at the school. Instead of being caught up in the loss of material things, let’s embrace the opportunity to change and do something different with our lives. Relapse is always going to be there for us, but recovery may not be.
Change does not only occur on an internal level though. Throughout the day, situations are constantly changing–for the better and sometimes for the worse. FFS and the 12 Steps teach us how to accept and deal with these changes.
A few weeks ago I was working in journalism class thinking that I was going to be the intern for the paper next semester. Later in the period, I went up to the Information Technology (IT) department to do some work for the paper, when I was asked by Shari Carroll how I felt about being the IT intern next semester. I replied by saying, “I am open to it, but to be completely honest I know nothing about computers.” Shari said, “That’s okay, we can work with that.” When I left the IT office and headed back to journalism, I thought to myself, Where did the idea of me becoming the IT intern come from? I know nothing about computers!
After praying about the situation and realizing that I should be grateful for whatever God puts in my life, I was okay with working at a job I knew nothing about.
The point of that story is that change is constant. The important thing is how we deal with it. Instead of looking at the negative aspects, we need to have faith that no matter what, everything will be alright.
Today I am the intern for the IT department and co-editor of The Family Times. I am extremely thankful for both of these opportunities God has placed in my life and I am looking forward to writing a monthly column and covering the natural gas drilling stories for the paper (in between my I.T. duties)!
by admin on August 29, 2009
By Matt W.
Bids for the demolition of the Wheeler and McGranaghan buildings and construction of the new Lourdes Healthcare clinic in the Village of Hancock are in, but work has yet to begin.
Two stumbling blocks have presented themselves: the presence of asbestos, and the village requirement of a two-story facade for all downtown buildings.
“Work on the buildings can’t start until we are given permits and authorization to begin,” said Robert Wrighter, Sr., chairman of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder fundraising campaign.
Both buildings contain hazardous material, and bids for its removal have come in significantly higher than expected.
“We’ve received a few different bids for asbestos [removal] and we’re not sure which one we’re going to use, but they’ve come in at around $200,000,” said Wrighter.
Wrighter reported that because of the high costs and levels of labor involved in traditional asbestos removal, the Lourdes Foundation is requesting a variance from the state for a less expensive, alternative method of removal.
Wrighter also reported that due to the asbestos, the estimated cost for constructing the clinic will be greater than the funds raised by the campaign, creating a gap of about $250,000.
Wrighter reported that due the gap in the $2 million budget, the clinic will have to be downsized.
“We’ll be getting rid of the second story facade,” said Wrighter, despite the Village requirements. He added that the changes won’t affect the new clinic services at all.
by admin on August 28, 2009
By Rosie E.
“Someone asked if I was afraid of a sophomore slump, but I said ‘no way,’ every ensemble is different, so it’s like we’re working for the first time,” said Paul Geer after his return from the nation’s capital where he participated in the World Leadership Congress hosted by Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership.
As summer was at its peak, Geer was in Washington, D.C. directing over 380 students from over a dozen countries in an exciting choral performance.
The World Leadership Congress is a conference of students chosen to learn about leadership and responsibility at George Washington University from July 23 to August 1.
The students are exposed to notable leaders from all different areas of business and have question and answer panels, focus groups, and training activities.
The students chosen to attend the WLC also have the unique opportunity to sing with the Ambassador Chorus, directed by The Family Foundation School’s Paul Geer.
Geer’s task was to divide the group into four voice parts (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), teach them the selected pieces of music, while also supporting the purpose of teaching leadership skills.
The new voices present in the Chorus made for an excellent performance of “Seasons of Love,” “We Are the World,” and the required piece, “Impossible Dream.” The song, also sang at last year’s performance, embodies the spirit and drive of HOBY.
by admin on August 28, 2009
By Pat C.
Recently, Chris Stein, Family Foundation School staff and advisor to the student government, received a phone call from Geraldine Brenner and Marie Murphy of Job Corps asking if he could get a few students from The Family School to put together a 15-minute skit about a dysfunctional family for Job Corps drug awareness day. Stein accepted the request and put together a group of five students for the skit.
The students were Henry W., Austin C., Kendra S., Sarah W., and Pat C. Austin and Pat were in charge of writing the skit. Since each member of the cast grew up in dysfunctional families, they were able to incorporate parts of each person’s story in the plot. After the skit was written, the cast began memorizing their lines and practicing for the presentation at the Job Corps in nearby Callicoon.
On Thursday, August 13, the students headed to Job Corps with Stein and Tom Kovaleski, head of the performing arts department at FFS, prepared and ready to perform. After a short drive from Hancock to Callicoon, the cast walked into a hot gym filled with 400 people. “I had butterflies in my stomach when we arrived at Job Corps, because I realized I was going to be performing in front of 400 people,” said Henry. After having a few minutes to collect themselves, the cast went out on the gym floor and began presenting. The crowd enjoyed the skit and seemed to find it quite comical.
After the skit, the students did a 15 minute question and answer session with the audience. “I saw the skit and the question and answer as a real opportunity to give back to the community,” said Sarah. After the drug and awareness presentations were over the students enjoyed a barbeque.
Falcons Beat Eldred
Mann House News
