Josh R.

Program Graduate June 2010

Family Foundation School alumnus Josh R. stopped by to see his old friends and attend the June graduation ceremony.

Josh is a full time construction worker in Manhattan, New York. He says that he is really enjoying the way life has shaped up for him; however, before attending The Family School, his life was anything but enjoyable.

Due to a serious drug addiction and a poor relationship with his family, Josh’s life was heading down a very negative path. It was at that point that his parents sent him to a wilderness program.

Following his experience in the woods, Josh realized he still needed more help. He then willingly came to The Family Foundation School on July 12, 2008.

“Right from the start I struggled adapting to the people around me,” Josh said. “I could not find myself being able to open up to anyone or become honest.”

Josh made friends here at the school through chorus and soccer and with their help overcame his difficulties. Josh kept striving to improve himself and show that he wanted the change that was being offered at the school. “I now really do realize this place saved my life. I owe a lot of my progress to the school,” said Josh.

He departed from FFS on June 26, 2010 as a program graduate.

He continued his schooling at home and now has a full time job that he loves. When asked if he had any advice for the newcomer Josh said, “Just remember life gets better. I would recommend you find someone who you trust, and start by opening up to them.”

Cresse M.
Class of December 2010

On June 9 Cresse M. returned with fellow alumnus, Lana G., to share her experience, strength, and hope with friends at The Family Foundation School.

Cresse arrived at FFS on June 15, 2009 for drug abuse and horrendous relationships at home. “I was truly the definition of self will run riot. I did whatever, whenever,” Cresse said, describing her lifestyle before FFS.

With the help of the girls in her family, Talbot House, Cresse was able to make the changes she needed so she would be eligible to graduate from the school in December 2010.

Her last six months were the most exciting of her stay as she was awarded the kitchen internship. “That work study was one of the most beneficial jobs I have ever had. I learned how to work as hard as I can, which will be useful,” said Cresse.

With a diploma in her hand and a novelty experience ahead, Cresse left her home in South Carolina and moved to Brooklyn, NY.

She found sobriety hard at first, but after finding an inspirational sponsor she kept the knowledge she had learned over the past years and applied it to her life. “My sponsor is so awesome. She keeps me going, and now my life is manageable thanks to her help,” Cresse said

Now Cresse attends school and is an active meeting maker. She keeps striving to help others, and work on herself to become an even better young woman.

Adam S.

Class of June 2008

Family Foundation School alumnus Adam Strauss returned to FFS on June 18 to give back to his old staff and friends by working for a week.

Strauss was sent to FFS on July 7, 2006 after a previous chaotic lifestyle that consisted of drugs, alcohol, anger, and numerous bad relationships.

After being placed in Family Four (now Mann House), Strauss continued his dishonest attitude and worked on close to nothing for 18 months.

Finally he surrendered and with the help of his sponsor, Joe Petriella, he graduated high school on June 26, 2008.

Life started to spiral downhill again after Strauss’ departure from FFS. “I messed up with the pressure. I rolled with the wrong crowd and that landed me a place in jail,” said Strauss. “This was definitely my bottom.” He overcame the difficulties and regained a relationship with his family.

Now Strauss appreciates life and what he has gained rather than focusing on what he lost. “Life is going good for me. I am happy and proud of myself,” Strauss said. To the newcomer Strauss says, “Be honest because your stay will go a lot easier and quicker.”

 Dave M. – Class of December 2010

On April 8, 2008 Dave M’s life changed dramatically in numerous ways.

He was escorted to his third program, The Family Foundation School. His old behaviors such as drug use, mischief, and disregarding the law came to a halt. He was given a chance to put his chaotic lifestyle behind him as he matured.

Upon arrival, Dave was placed in Talbot House, and later switched to Mann House for participating in negative contracts. He experienced his first taste of honesty after coming up for his negative behaviors after switching families. He spent the last two years of his three-year stay in Mann House learning to become an honest man and finding the importance of the Four Absolutes and sobriety.

Through photography class, boys’ groups, and becoming a peer mentor, Dave learned how to be grateful. “Just savor the moment you have. This place (FFS) has a lot to offer if you just try to accept it,” said Dave.

On December 18, 2010 Dave graduated high school, and officially started his journey outside of the school as a FFS alumnus.

Now, Dave finds all aspects of his life incredible. He enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and camping. When he is not living life to the fullest, Dave is a full time student at college.

Dear Family Times

We just received the June edi­tion of the Family Times, and I thought I’d write a quick note. Our son Daniel Christmas gradu­ated in summer 2007. He went to Washington DC for a while then moved down to Houston studying Network Engineering. He is now married and his wife is expecting a baby in September— very ex­citing. He is doing well, and has become a thoughtful, mature, and solid guy. The Family Times has continued to be sent as we move with my work from Houston to Dubai to Moscow and now to Canada. Today when I read it I feel gratitude for the job done and efforts put into it by the students, but feel more and more distant. Please save the money and stop sending the paper to me, it is a cost that you do not need for the print and the postage. We will not forget.

Thanks, Dave C.

Editor’s Note: Thanks, Dave, for the update on Dan. We are grate­ful for your good thoughts for us. Please note that news of the school, including many Family Times articles, are available on­line at www.thefamilyschootimes.com

Alumni writes from Africa 

Lisa G. was a December 2003 FFS graduate. After gradu­ation she completed her bachelor of psychology at the Dominican University of California. After graduating from the Master of Science Public Helath Program at UCLA this past June, she is volunteering in Tanzania to get experience working with people who have the HIV virus to further her studies.

Mambo Vipi!

Hi everyone! I’m here in Tanza­nia, in the town of Arusha. The trip was very long but totally worth it. I arrived really late last night, at 11pm, and was sort of amazed at how dark it was when I looked out the window of the plane because there are few houses with electricity here.

Two project managers picked me up from the airport, and they were super nice. The thing I really like so far about the people in my program is that they are so warm. So anyway, they picked me up, and we went out to the car and of course the first thing that hap­pened… the car wouldn’t to start. So I jumped out and helped push. Strangely enough, starting my trip that way made me really happy.

I think it was exactly the way I pictured how this trip would be, and I was smiling already.

The drive from the airport to the town of Arusha is long, like 40 minutes, but it gave me time to get to know my coordinators. Mean­while the moon was totally orange and hovered over the landscape exactly the way I’ve seen it in so many pictures. I have yet to see the Tanzanian countryside in the daylight, which I’m excited to do.

The hotel we’re staying in is clean and mostly comfortable although the beds are a little hard, but I can live with that. And they have showers! So I’m not totally gross yet.

Anyway, I didn’t sleep well. Last night, after the coordinators left me, and I was in a room by myself, I started to feel a little lonely and was wondering what inspired me to travel halfway across the world by myself. I hadn’t met the other volunteers yet, and I was worried about that as well. I tried to get some sleep, but the noise from the street was incredibly loud, and the action never stops.

I guess I should mention that Arusha is more like a city than a town, and is one of the main tour­ist hubs since it is a great starting place to go on safari. I’ll only be here tonight and Sunday night as a group of us will be heading out on a short two-day safari start­ing tomorrow. We come back Sunday night, but we’re leaving Monday for the village we’ll be working in.

My Swahili is horrible, and I can’t seem to get the hang of it, but luckily the other volun­teers I met this morning are in the same boat. Today we’ve been walking around Arusha. I had a simple (and local) lunch which consisted of chicken in a tomato sort of broth, with rice. On the side they included a salad of tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers in a sort of vinaigrette which was super yummy, spinach, bananas, and beans on the side. I also had a glass of warm chai which they gave me for free, and it was delicious. It was a veritable feast, and you’ll never believe it, but it cost me about $2.50. Anyway, I’m off to the market to buy material to make skirts. I just wanted to let you know I’m doing great, having a wonder­ful time so far, and loving the company. My next email may not come for about 2 weeks, so sorry! Love you all!