One Thing I'm Going to Do Differently...

-"im going to stop smoking weed and stay cleen and start skating again" KE, age 12

-"One thing I will do differently when I leave is make my life the best it can be. I'll change the way I treat people. I'll change people's lifes for the better. One love." RE, age 16

-"I going to stop running & hideing from my fears & I'm going to go to school & do well." AS, age 17

-"a thing Im going t do different when I leave is be a part of my family again. get my life on the right track and not to go with the guy who always put me down." MS, age 16

-"When I leave O&A I want to stop smoking bud and ciggarretes and start sk8ing again." LR, age 13

-"I am going to do better for my Mom and stop smoking weed." JM, age 14

-"I am not going to make the same decisions that got me put in here. I have already wasted enough time in my life." JC, age 17

Poem: "The Relationship with Carlos"

1. i thought you were so good to me
but you wernt.
2. i felt you were my everything
but you wernt
3. i thought you truly loved me
but you didnt
4. i thought you were going to be there for S
but you werent
5. S screamed for your attention
but you didnt
6. i cut myself badly
but you still didnt care

1. you took away my friends & family
but i didnt care
2. you took my sobriety & then my drugs
but i didnt care
3. you took my right to be a mom
but i didnt care
4. you would call me things like stupid or ugly
but i didnt care
5. you controled my whole life
but i didnt care
6. you kept me living on the street
but i still didnt care

1. we beat each other bloody
but we didnt care
2. we said we loved each other
but we didnt really
3. we screamed & yelled at each other
but we didnt care
4. we both wanted something eles
but we didnt care

dont do what i did!

SC, age 16

One Thing I'm Going to Do Differently...

-"When I leave O&A, I'm gonna hit the weights and stay off weed and cigarrettes." AM, age 16

-"When I leave... When I leave O&A I'm not going to make the same mistakes I did to come here." JP, age 15

-"When i get out i'm going to go to school get through high school at least and make me happy and my parents proud stop using drugs and stop hanging out with gang members." TW

-"One thing when I get out will be respect my Dad more & stay away from Drugs. I will also get my diploma and a steady job for my daughter and I!! RP, age 17

-"I will try to think befor I act. I will not steal stuff from stores or school. I wont get caught up in a mess. I will try really hard not to come back to Dt or O&A." AS, age 15

-"One thing I will do different when I leave O&A... is stay away from all the drugs and stop hanging around gangs. I'm going to go back to school and graduate. I'm going to do what my parents ask of me. I'm going to get a steady job so I can get all the freshest clothes and shoes." KP, age 17

-"One thing am going to do when i get out of O&A is change my life and behavier and go back to school and make new friends and stay on task and help out everyone that needs help from me and tell people what i have been throu and change my life and be a good citizen from now on while am in O&A." AM, age 13

Poem: "Free"

I see but I can't be free
in here I can't be me
like a dog in a cage
filled with rage
All I want is outta this cage
so let me out
and set me free
so I can show to you all
who I can really be

AC, age 17

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is marine core

Dear Sarah, the reaons why you should take me for the marine core is because Ive been shooting guns my whole life so shooting a person wouldnt be real different then shooting an animal. And I also been blowing things up as ar as I can remember so I can blow things down and be in and out within 52 seconds and also lead the team in and out safly so thats why I would be a good candidate for your bissness spot so I hope you look into my request more. Thank you for your time.

TB, age 15

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is fish & game officer

Dear Sarah,

I think I am a good candidate for this position. I have studied in science and biology. I have also been through the required amount of police academy. I think I would be great for this job, because I love the outdoors. I love science and I love working and protecting animals. I've also been around hunters and campers, I aalso am one myself so I know how they think and know when and where it all happens. Espessially potchers I have seen a lot of them in my time hunting and in the outdoors, but haven't been able to do anything about it but call someone to stop it. But by the time they got there, the potchers are long gone. So please give me this chance and opportunity to start saving and protecting the wild animals, and espessially the outdoors.

AC, age 17

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is criminal psycologist

Dear Sarah
i feel i am more qualified then most for this job because i have all the proper schooling such as my doctoret witch i spent ten years & lots of money to educate myself for this job. i have also done my ful year of internship too. The reason i want this job is because i want to help instatutionalized people like my brothers to find the problum under there skulls & help fix it.

i am a caring person. all i want is to help these convicts succseed as functional members of soceity. So in the long shot i want a chance to change the world in some small way. so you should partake in my changing of the world.

SC, age 16

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is to be a marines recon team leader.

Dear Sarah

I am a worthy candidate for the position as recon team member Because I can handle a weapon with utmost precision and accuracy. I am one with the shadows,  I stay undetected by any enemy trying to look for me. I can be a leader when it is required of me, also I am determined to get the job done correctly with as little or no mistakes and or injuries and casualties. One last thing is, when it comes down to it in hardcore point blank range combat I can keep a level head and get my men where need be. So please consider my name when picking worthy candidates for your job position.

S.N.

"My Dream Job" -- a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is working where my dad works today and forever

Dear Sarah, I want to work at life time with my dad cause he works there and I want to work there cause its a lot of pay and everybody who workds there is awsome and extra jobs for way more money and everybody that are my dads friends and me whole works there. That my dream job is. and I want to be a DJ.

One Thing I'm Going to Do Differently...

-"When I leave O&A I would like to change my attitude towards everything! So basically just be a better person to be around." PM

-"When I get out of O&A im going to be there for my family and thank you for helping me better understand writing."  M

-"I will never come back & I will do great in school also use the tools I learn." JC

-"I want to change my anger problems so I dont come back." TH

-"Im going too stay way from all the dogs and old friends. in one week a life time can pass. in one day, familys shatter like glass. in one hour, time still moves too fast. in one sec, we make choices that wil last."

-"When I get out of O&A I am gonna stay away from drugs and not listen to bad influences and stay out!" TJ

-"Go to school and go to the DATC and get a masters or PhD in weilding." BA

-"One thing i will do when i leave this facility is be with mom more." WR

-"I am going to go back to high school and graduate so I can go to the UofU and be on the gymnastics team. I'm going to show my family the gratitude that I truly have and the appreciation I have for them." NH

"My Dream Job" -- a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is to be a medical doctor.

Dear Sarah,

There are some reasons why I think you should hire me for this job. I am a very hard and dedicated worker. I go the extra mile to get the job done. I am a people person. People can talk to me and understand what I'm telling them, not like most doctors that toss out big words to sound smart. I am also a very caring person. I will put more than enough time into my patients. No patient will ever feel like there not being cared for. I'm not affraid to stitch someone up, blood doesn't bother me, I'm a very hands on person. If something needs to be done, you can count on me.

W.E.

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is a shoe designer

Dear Sarah,
You should hire me for this job because I have some good ideas for this company an I know these designs that I have created will change the world. Each shoe that is made, is specifically made for each and ever left and right foot. But the real reason for my shoe designs are for the comfort and the aww that catches what the customer wants. My designs will cat the eye of the customer an I can guarentee the Benjamins of the mula!
My shoes are for comfortability and endurance for the long lasting, meaning the shoe was made to last long and stay strong but you will never ever need to buy another pair of shoes for the longest while. Also I have the skills to sketch any designs you want or need and I have the taste for styles.

SC, age 17

"My Dream Job" - a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is a Dictator

Dear Sarah

Why should you hire me? Well allow me to complicate some reasons why you should hire me and not someone else.

1. I have experience working.
2. I am available 24/7 as well as short notice.
3. I work consistently under pressure.
4. I have study about this and I can offer you a great fit for things
5. I can boost the gross income by applying me knowledge to your job offer.

Sarah, let's be realistic here. I have what you want but I can only help you if you help me. :oD

J.S.