Robin M. – Class of June 2008
Robin M. came to the Family Foundation School as an angry adolescent on July 26, 2006, with no intention of going anywhere with her life. Two years later, she graduated in June of 2008 and has done well ever since.
Robin did well in her classes and was also a “big” part of the school’s life. She was a member of the cheerleading squad for the school as well as participating in events that helped build the school’s morale. She was also the dynamic and enthusiastic ad manager for The Family Times.
Robin now attends George Mason University, in Virginia and is majoring in Events Management and Tourism. She has been holding two jobs ever since she left. One is for Long and Foster Realty; the other involves three construction companies on the East Coast. She has been working all summer and has been very successful in her time management despite all of the things in her life such as, college, maintaining two jobs, desire for having fun, etc.
Some of the things Robin does for fun on the outside are going to concerts, gambling with her boss in casinos in Virginia, and cliff jumping. Her basic struggles involve loading her plate with too many things and work, as well as choosing between her dreams and her parent’s dreams.
Mary S. – Class of June 2008
Since leaving The Family Foundation School in June 2008, Mary S is doing very well.
She is a full time student at ASA in downtown Brooklyn, NY. Mary got married recently and says that things are great.
Mary was a student at The Family School for two and a half years. She was a student in families three and four. She was also involved in a variety of extracurricular activities which allowed her to keep herself occupied. She played softball, basketball, and soccer. She also participated in tap dance and art.
She explained that her life has been changed because of The Family School. “I was very turned off by the school and what it had to offer at first, but once I got pass the fact that I couldn’t be that person for the rest of my life things changed,” said Mary.
Her life now consists of many of the same ideas and principles that she developed at the school.
However, she explained that she still has struggles, but she is able to work through them with help from her parents, a Higher Power, and contact with a number of staff members from the school.
Mary has great relationships with her husband and her parents and said that there is full trust in them.
She hopes that one day she’ll be able to become a pediatrician and move to Georgia with her new husband. “Be focused, nothing in life is free,” said Mary.
Ben K. – Class of 2006
After graduating from The Family School in 2006, I attended Dawson College in my home city of Montreal. It wasn’t long before I was disillusioned by the realization that I was unprepared for what lay ahead of me— that I was so lost that I sincerely didn’t know who I was. I began to question whether or not some of the principles that had been instilled in me at the school were truly of my own mind. I had to find myself. But I was still at an impasse; I had no direction, no sense of orientation.
With all kinds of heavy questions looming over me and very little resolve to keep me grounded, I began to go back to some of the old behaviors and attitudes. School took a backseat to my spiritual dilemma and I began to find all kinds of reasons to be miserable. I was given a few opportunities to momentarily see things as they really were; and when I saw the true nature of my position I clung to that insight, that last shard of hope, with all my being.
I began reading this book which seemed to me all at once very pertinent to my understanding of where I was on my life journey. It was not just a book, it was an entire methodology and grouping of ideas connected with a widely practiced way of life called the Fourth Way.
After my first year of becoming familiar with some of the concepts, I joined a group that met once a week to aid each other in “The Work” as they called it. The Fourth Way is not unlike AA in that they share some core principles and function under some of the same fundamental laws.
I recently visited the school for graduation, and what I saw was quite a different picture from the one I had as a student. Although several staff I spoke to on campus told me that many things had changed at the school since my departure, I reassured myself that I also had changed.
My communication with staff members was especially refreshing; I observed a real contrast from a feeling of condescension as a student, to a feeling of comfort in relating to one another’s humanity as an alumnus.
While listening to the graduates’ speeches, I realized that my personal disagreement with some aspects of the school’s approach was easily overshadowed by the larger transformation that takes place after an individual has completed a certain amount of work on themselves. This kind of transformation or internal revolution is spoken about in the AA promises and I saw it in some of the graduates.
As for my future plans, I have just graduated from Dawson College and will venture abroad before I pursue further education. I am fortunate to have a family and a girlfriend who are supportive of my journey, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I have been given. The advice I can give to students is not to grieve or be indignant; take advantage of the time you have at FFS.
Joanna B. – Program Grad of June 2007
Joanna B. was a student at The Family Foundation School for three years.
Joanna came to visit the school recently with alumni friend, Mary S. She was sent to the school for being disrespectful and acting like a brat. Her goal for improvement at this school was to become the daughter she knew she should have been.
The school helped her to see that being the daughter she always wanted to be was much more important than the small, materialistic things in life.
Her biggest struggle was getting over herself and realizing the world didn’t revolve around Joanna. She had to work hard to get over her stubborn attitude and practice the program.
She credits the staff for all the advice and help she received and encourages students to take advantage of the staff’s help, too.
Her best advice to the newcomer is to never quit. Joanna graduated the program in June of 2007 and is still considering college and other choices.
Joanna was glad to see some people she knew and is happy to have returned to visit.
Francesco B. – Class of June 2002
Francesco B. graduated from FFS in June of 2002. He returned to visit his good friends here at FFS. Francesco was a student here at FFS for three and a half years, from February ’99 to June ’02. He played soccer for all of his three years as well as excelling in school and performing in chorus. He was in Smith House, formerly known as Family Five.
He earned his undergraduate degree in phsycology at the City College of NY and is currently working on his masters degree in school phsycology.
He works as a behavior counselor for adults with mental disabilities. His work teaches him patience and has allowed him to help himself by helping others.
“This place helps you live to a higher standard of living,” said Francesco. “Since I left here I have definitely been using the tools that i learned here at The Family School.”
He will be going on a trip to Italy at the end of August.
