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Hats Off?

By Brooke C.

Approaching graduation, high school and college seniors world-wide are starting to get nervous.

High school seniors are facing the common problems of transferring into college, and learning how to get adjusted to a way of life that is completely unfamiliar to them. These teenagers need to pack their belongings and school books, and head off to colleges in towns they’ve never lived in before. They are looking forward to enjoying whatever version of the “college experience” they have ahead of them, and the world seems filled with opportunities.

However, for the current college Class of 2011, graduation is presenting far fewer opportunities. Four years earlier, these students embarked on a journey they thought would inevitably end in success, and now, when their moment has come to step into the world, there seems to be no room for them.

Time Magazine recently published an article by Roya Wolverson entitled, “Now What?” The article presented statistics, quotes, and surveys on the subject of life after graduation from a university.

Time cited a Rutgers University study, which found that from 2006 to 2010 more than 30% of the recession-era college graduates didn’t secure a job within six months of graduation. Wolverson also wrote that a poll conducted by consulting firm Twentysomething Inc. found 85% of graduates are now living with their parents.

This problem, while specific to college graduates, is definitely on the horizon for students just heading into college, and it doesn’t seem to be fading away any time soon.

For a current high school graduate, this fact is unnerving. I got in all my applications, spent hours on the phone with college advisors, alumni, and administrators. I faithfully checked my email and portal accounts.

After finally securing acceptance to Fordham University, I thought the hard part was done. I was under the impression that college graduates had a relatively good chance of landing a job and being successful. However, it turns out I might be wrong.

Time quoted Michelle Obama from her speech to Northern Iowa University graduates on May 7. She said, “the path won’t always be laid out neatly for you. Sometimes you won’t be able to find that perfect job. Sometimes you might momentarily take a job just to stay afloat.” These words aren’t very comforting.

The government, the corporations, the schools, and many other establishments have been blamed for this. Currently, however, the academic community is receiving the majority of the backlash. Employers blame universities for the abundance of Liberal Arts degrees and the lack of degrees in science and engineering.

However, for a lowly aspiring journalist, there seems to be no solution. I guess I’ll just have to keep on going, and see if I can make the poverty-striken-artist life work for me.

Bob Dylan once said, “20 years of schooling and they put you on the day shift.” Yet again, Mr. Dylan has provided the youth of our generation with some important insight from the 60s.

A degree is no guarantee; schooling doesn’t necessarily mean a better chance in the future. I guess the only solution for me is to throw away my idealistic dreams, buy a mini-van, put in some genuine hard work, and join the rest of working-class America.

Happy graduation!

The Graduating Class of June 2011 Bonds Kayaking on the River

By Brooke C

Twice a year, a group of seniors graduates from The Family Foundation School. The diplomas received by these students mean a lot more than just the accumulation of enough credits to move on to college; they mean that these students have also completed the program, and have changed themselves from angst-ridden teenagers into strong young men and women.

When graduation rolls around in June and December, the senior class goes on a special trip to commemorate all their hard work. This year the students went on an eight-mile trip, kayaking down the Delaware River.

The senior class, along with two program graduates, met outside the school to wait for their turn to board the bus. Some played football, others sat around talking about the day ahead, and many students ran around frantically trying to gather the last of their belongings and making sure they had enough sunscreen.

When the stragglers arrived, the seniors boarded the bus and set off towards Lordville, where the kayaks were waiting for them.

The students got off the bus and were met by three men who were to help them down the river, Paul Mang and his two assistants.

After a briefing on the importance of paddle-signals, listening to whistles, and the students’ new best friends (their PFD’s, personal flotation devices), everybody chose a kayak and got on the water.

While the safety lecture scared a couple of the students, and their departure from shore wasn’t without yelps and gasps from some of the fearful paddlers, the group shoved off and embarked on the trip down the Delaware.

Most of the students had some experience with paddling, so the launch went smoothly.

The next six hours or so were spent gliding down the Delaware. The students paddled, following Mang’s lead, isolated from civilization by large mountains covered with trees.

The students encountered several bald eagles, one circled them for several minutes, and families of ducks and other birds.

The procession made stops at a large boulder students could jump off, and a shore strewn with smooth rocks of all different shapes and sizes.

The experience for most of the seniors was one of peace and serenity. Not only did the class bond with each other, they also had profound spiritual experiences which allowed them to bond with their higher powers as well.

One student, Brian O, found the experience to be one of prayer. “I had a lot of fun, and it was nice and peaceful.”
Others expressed how the beauty of nature served as more proof of the existence of a higher power. “After I saw a bald eagle flying over us, I knew that if there were such beautiful things in the games of bowling, this class got to enjoy a day of serenity and connection with God on one of the five cleanest rivers in America. Not only did they share this awesome experience, they were able to spend it with their best friends, which was another blessing.

Kate D said, “I loved being able to share this experience with some of my best friends. Also, racing with Billy J was awesome.”

Billy commented on the experience saying, “Kate may have thought it was a race, but I was just trying to get away from her.”

After the students got back on the bus and headed home, they stopped at The Cow Lick, a popular attraction for Family School students, as ice cream is always a favorite.

Students waited as people working behind the counter produced the “Raspberry Razzle with Reese’s Cups and Gummy Bears,” ordered by Jordan S, and then the seniors took the opportunity to enjoy a little more sun.

After arriving at school, the seniors took showers and rushed to the nurses’ station searching for aloe vera to put on their new sunburns.

Easter Egg Extravaganza

Students Enjoy Exciting Holiday Activities

By Billy J

Three Families: Lake, Betton, and Mann, gathered in the gym Easter Sunday anticipating the normal, dreary holiday egg hunt. They sat around with anxious expressions, awaiting the chance to move on with the day. Suddenly, a beam of light shone through the gym doors. In strolled the gallant members of Talbot House, dressed for battle: some donned dress clothes, others, mud face paint. They were ready for the Easter Egg hunt of all time. “This is a program of honesty, and the truth is, I was scared. They were extremely intimidating,” Joe T. said.

When staff member Mike Losicco gave the signal, The Family Foundation School students stormed the property. Talbot House held to the lead from the beginning. As their family leaders, Jan Cheripko and Dawne Possemato instructed, they showed no mercy. “There was no way we were losing. I wanted the victory more than anything,” Tim R, one of the most productive Talbot House egg hunters, stated.

Other families slipped into old habits during the hunt. When Talboteer Yana K. discovered a larger, rarer green egg, Gill H. snatched it from her hands, leaving her in a mud puddle. When the event was over, the entire school reunited in the gym. Talbot House let their bag of eggs speak for itself, while the other families hollered and carried on over whose bag was superior. “During basketball, we were taught not to celebrate because we expect to win and we carried that attitude to the egg hunt,” said Talbot House anchor Bennett O.

Despite the adversity, Talbot House prevailed, winning the hunt with more than 425 eggs. They feasted on a dinner consisting of tacos and jelly beans. With tears in his eyes, Cameron S. said, “I’m really proud of this family. I think it shows that everyone in Talbot House is in it for the other person.”

The Road to Recovery

by Buddy R.

When I began my stay at The Family Foundation School I was depressed and had a substance addiction I believed I could deal with. It took a lot of direction from my sponsor and others to realize the destruction I was causing and how messed up my thinking was. I was born on February 14, 1992, in Scarborough, Maine, that’s the east coast. My first memories of growing up were going out with my family to the beach and the park. I also went out with my neighbors, who were like brothers to me and my sister. I started playing soccer when I was little also. My dad was a head coach, and today we know a lot about soccer.

When I was in middle school I started isolating a lot and playing games on my PlayStation and listening to music. I lived a good childhood up until ninth grade when I started getting bad anxiety. I believed something could cure me, and that doing drugs was it. So one day my friend and I started smoking weed. I loved it. From there on I got high before every event. When I was 16 my parents bought a car so I was driving to work and to practice. I always worked hard and knew I needed to work hard to get by. Life didn’t get easier for me, I continued to be depressed and anxious, and weed continued to be the cure. The more I smoked, the more I began to feel my life was spinning out of control. I was starting to lose interest in what was once important to me. Soccer, school and work didn’t matter to me; smoking was the only thing I wanted to do.

Every day I would get high whether I was happy or depressed. Because I needed to get high every day, most of my daily efforts went to getting anything I could smoke, drink, or snort. The drugs had infiltrated me, and there was no sign of stopping them. I was trying pills like pain killers and coke. My life didn’t get any easier and I had no money; every day was a struggle to get high and put gas in my car.

One summer day I was home getting high when my mom walked in; she had enough with me and my weed; the end result was a fight. My family had growing concerns for me and there was no choice but to send me away, and, in a hospital, I recovered. I was there two weeks, where I learned more about drugs and their effects. It was hard to have the desire to stop when I was in a room full of drug addicts telling stories and looking for more connections. A couple of days after leaving the hospital I was handed my cell phone, contacted my friends and was smoking once again.

Weeks later there was an intervention with some escorts, bringing me to the mountains of Georgia. I felt at times like my parents had deserted me by sending me there, I also felt as if I had somehow deserved it. I had destroyed everything I and those who loved me had once built. Then again I had some of the best experiences of my life there in the woods.

I learned I had to start changing my thinking. Since I felt sorry for what I had done, from then on I decided to do something else.  Ten weeks into my stay I found out I was going to The Family School and realized my road to recovery was longer than first planned. My journey to The Family Foundation School didn’t get easier. I was filled with anger and depression at those around me. I either acted out on my anger or didn’t talk. I eventually surrendered and was slowly relieved of my resentment and fear.

I learned to get help from my sponsor and my friends. Although I still struggle, I am guided by them. I later joined the soccer team and began to get better grades in school. I am graduating the program at the end of June. I have a good relationship with my family. I have a place where I can live my life sober which will last a lifetime.

Alumni News

Parker S.

Class of December 2010

Parker S. is currently a freshman at New York Institute of Technology.

He came with Andrew B. to share his message with current The Family Foundation School students. “Life gets better,” Parker told his former schoolmates.  He tried to help as many boys as he could during the day of his visit. Parker shared a productive, hour-long program talk with Daniel K. on the front steps of The Family Foundation School.

Parker was sent to The Family Foundation School on January 2, 2009 for drug abuse, anger, and bad relationships with his parents. He was placed in Family 2, which became Lake House. Later he was switched to Wilson House. During his stay, Parker struggled with his relations with girls. He forced his will and did whatever he wanted. He also recalled being rude to people.

“Carlton, Jan, Larry, and my friends,” Parker said, “were my biggest help during my stay here.”

Since his graduation, he struggled with jumping into A.A., finding meetings, and consistently attending them. Today, he is active in A.A.; daily working with his sponsor.

Alumni News

Andrew B.

June 2010 Program Graduate

Andrew B. came to visit with fellow alumni Parker S. on April 20. Prior to The Family Foundation School, B. failed in his attempts to control his anger and impulsivity. He was easily enraged and lacked knowledge of coping skills and positive outlets. He arrived at The Family Foundation School on April 9, 2008, and was placed in Family 6, later known as Wilson House.

At The Family Foundation School, Andrew was reluctant to start his recovery due to his resentments. For a while, he fed into his resentments, which stemmed from being told what to do, rules, and the structure at The Family Foundation School. He also had a hard time being away from home and was angry at his parents sending him to the school. Once he realized that The Family Foundation School was an opportunity to start over, he made a conscious decision to surrender his will. Andrew adjusted to The Family Foundation School lifestyle and worked through his resentments with his friends.

Andrew recalled his biggest support in The Family Foundation School: Wilson House and its staff, especially Woody and Carlton. He also acknowledged his uncle Bill Musgrove as one of the biggest helps in his recovery.

Upon leaving The Family Foundation School, Andrew struggled with returning to public school for his senior year. “Senior year’s a hard time to start over.” He said that there were a lot of temptations, which he is presently working through with friends. To the newcomer, he suggests, “Be real and get honest. Find someone you trust that you can tell everything to.”

Alumni News

Drew D.

Class of December 2010

Andrew D. came back to The Family Foundation School on April 15, 2011, to visit the students and staff. Drew arrived at The Family Foundation School on February 1, 2008, and graduated December 18, 2010 with a New York State Regents Diploma.

Drew was in Family Seven (Talbot House) for the majority of his stay, and switched into Lake House for support during his last semester. His biggest help while at The Family Foundation School came from Family Leader Jan Cheripko, “I wanted the peace that he had and he always seemed to see what I couldn’t see. Eventually, I shut up and started to listen to him. He was also the first person I ever fully trusted.”

He was also assisted by his two closest friends from The Family Foundation School, Blake J. and Josh K. “We were like the three amigos,” Drew said. After graduation, Drew began attending Broome Community College, where he is majoring in music, and is planning on transferring to a college in New York City. However, there are some things that he misses about The Family Foundation School, “To this day, I still struggle with loneliness. For a long time, I didn’t know anybody. It was different than living with my friends 24/7 like at school. He is also auditioning for an off-Broadway show this summer, to help kick start his performing arts career.

Drew says, “Oddly enough, I do miss this place. Something happens when you graduate…all of a sudden, you become grateful for everything that you were given at The Family Foundation School. I hear people who have left on bad terms or have gotten taken out early have said the same thing. So, I’m not lying.” His advice to the newcomer, “Stick with it, it is not that bad. You will get through it.”

Alumni News

Luke V.

Class of June 2010

Luke V, the Valedictorian of the Graduating Class of 2010, has done a lot since he left The Family Foundation School. When he arrived at the school on November 14, 2008, he did not have the drive to get into a good college, but after working hard in school, he got the results he was looking for. Today, he maintains a solid G.P.A. as a freshman at the University of Scranton. He studies Counseling, Human Services, and Psychology in the honors program. In addition, Scranton is paying for half of his tuition because of the scholarship he earned for his academic achievements.

“There have been a lot of life challenges put in front of me since I left. However, the school taught me how to handle these difficulties,” said Luke. As he deals with the everyday struggles of a first-year college student, Luke continues to have fun just as he did in Betton House. He goes to concerts and he even managed to make it to one on his birthday last month.

He still stays in touch with some of his good friends such as Josh R, Max Z, and Aaron Z. He will always remember the support he got from those three friends. “I will always remember the staff members in Betton House, also. Mike and Robin Ducey, Bill Cordts, and Nanci Newcomb were so important to my transformation.”

He continues to excel as a student and looks forward to visiting the school sometime this summer.

Overcoming Adversity

By Joe T.

About 30,000 Americans in today’s society have a chronic disease called Cystic Fibrosis that affects respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetically inherited disease that creates thick mucus that clogs the passage which leads to the body’s organs making breathing and body functioning difficult. There is no cure for this fatal disease and the average life expectancy is only 37 years.

The Family Foundation School’s EMT, Yancey Brown, has two daughters with this illness: Emily and Bethany; they are 9 and 11. The daily struggles these two little girls encounter to “stay healthy” are remarkable. A day in the life of a person with CF requires resilience to take each day as it comes at you.

When the girls wake up at six, they do exercises to make sure their breathing is kept good and healthy. The exercises take up to 30 minutes before they eat. The same task has to be done at night before they sleep. When the treatments are over, it is time for breakfast. The girls have to take 3-4 enzyme pills to make sure their food is able to be digested properly. Every time a piece of food touches the girl’s mouth, even a chocolate bar, pills must be taken. In addition, each girl consumes at least 40 pills a day making sure they are able to maintain a diet of at least 3,600 calories. “All the food I have to eat is not an issue because I like food,” says Emily.

The girls are extremely positive despite their struggle. “It (CF) is a struggle, but my mom really encourages me. She gives me the motivation to keep going,” said Emily, commenting on her lifestyle. “I don’t want to give up because my mom and dad are always there to help me out and they wouldn’t quit on me.” The girls keep pushing and fighting through life’s challenges. “God is always there for me, and always showing other people his love through me,” says Bethany.

The girls are able to participate in fun-filled activities. They enjoy running, kick ball, and softball as their favorite activities.

Talbot House News

By Ron R.

Several students from Talbot House this month got the opportunity to visit a rehab facility to share their experience, strength, and hope. Billy J, Kate D, Jill Mc, and Lee D. went to Princeton House in Princeton, New Jersey to share their journey through recovery with the young people that were staying there. Also, Jack S, Kevin D, Yana K, and Anais P. went to Caramel, N.Y. to share at Arms Acres Rehab.

Kevin D. and Lee D. passed their anchors on to Billy J. and Bennett O. “I had no idea I was getting an anchor. When Lee and Kevin got me up at the table, I thought it was going to be a regular table topic.” said Billy about his anchor. A couple of weeks later, Anais P. followed suit and passed her anchor down to Kate D.

Former Talbot House staff member Mike Losicco moved to Betton House as their new family counselor, but he will finish as the family counselor with the June graduates from Talbot House.

Ashley S. has been stepping up in the family recently. With almost all of the girls in Talbot House graduating in June, the family leaders are expecting her to be a leader.

Many Talbot House graduates have been staying active in the school despite their thoughts about summer and college. However, a couple of them are what students here call “out the door.” Staff and other senior students have been helping them through their struggles.