Everyone Has a Story: "So Many Bad Memories"

 I was born in ___ but moved to Utah at the age of 5. Mostly because my brothers and my familys lives were in jeporidy for gang violence that my brothesr participated in. What my parents wanted for is a new life. They moved to Utah hoping things would get better. But they didnt. Since I was a little girl all I remember was the anger in my dads eyes & the smell of alcohol coming from his breath. I remember the sadness in my moms tears dripping from her eyes & the fear in her body language. It seemed like all I did was hide. I was never comfortable living in my own home & my mom was doing everything to protect me from my dad and my two older brothers they didn't make the situation any better, they made it worse. They joined in on the actions of my dad. Ive had so many bad memories in my childhood... But Ive learned not to live int he past & to live in the present, now my dad is no longer a alcholic and he has changed so much. My older bro is in prison, nothing new. My father has never personally said sorry but actions speak louder than words.

CO, age 15

Everyone Has a Story: "Locked Up"

the day I got locked up and im still locked up well I woke up then I was about to get up but then my mom starts knocking on the door so I put [my drugs] away then I go for the door my mom asks me what time I got home last night so I told her then my school cop pops up from my hall way in my mind I was like @#$*$^!! Then he told me to turn around so I did then he hand cuffed me then he took me to d.t. When I got there I was thinking in my head and was like I cant beleive Im here and when I got into my section I saw my friend I havent seen him awhile. Me and that fool are homies. I know he would have my back but yeah me and him left d.t. the same day he went to the Salt Lake O&A and I came here but its pretty chil here I know that I can get threw with this program and hopefully go home.

L.A.

Everyone Has a Story: "A Day at Lagoon"

One day I thought it was a good idea to go to Lagoon. Little did I know what people try to get you to do. So the day I went was Lagoon day for ninth grade. There was a bunch of people at admission and when we got in there was more people. The first ride we went on the old roller coaster. That was fun but my stomach went up my throat a couple times. I admire who ever thought that gravity would pull a cart around a track. After that we went to the spider and rode the wild mouse. The wild mouse is way fun and I could go on it alot without getting sick. After we went to the gondola and rode it across the park. Whenw e stopped at the arcade and played some games. The haunted roller coaster/house was lame it wasn't even scary. I think it should be but I see why they don't so kids can't get super scared and get off the ride. I wanted to go on the jet star but no one else did so I didn't. We went to raddle snake rapids and rode it twice. the first time we were fine and didn't get wet. The last time we got soaked. that was my trip to Lagoon.

VA, age 15

Everyone Has a Story: "Friends"

When I was six years old I moved here from ___ and lived with my dad. Ever 6 months - 2 years we moved to a different city. I hardly ever had friends because I kept having to make new ones and when I made new friends we moved again. Then my dad and step-mom met they have been together for 4 years and we hardly move anymore. Sometimes I think it was a very good thing we moved around the valley Because If we didn't my dad and step-mom would have never met and I wouldn't of ever had friends. Life is hard to do when you dont have friends because people say we listen to our friends 70% parents 20% and other things 10%. Lots of things have either a positive influence on you or a negative influence and not that I'm locked up I will try my hardest to only follow the positive influences and live a wonderful life with my family, friends, and siblings. I will never get locked up again. If I have anything to say about it.

RN

Everyone Has a Story: "My Story"

OK so it all started 1 year ago when I live in AZ I got mixed up with the wronge crowd and I starte drinking with them and then a cuple weeks later I started smoking with them and then after all that I started to not listen to my parents or listen in school and then I got into drinking and smoking a lot more and I wouldnt come home till after curfew and then after all that I picked up a charge and I'm not going to say what that was because it will start stuff and then once I got out of DT I went back to my homies and went back to drinking and smocking and after that happened I got jumped into a crew and thats when I became known as a soldier and then a yer went by of being a soldier that I became a seller and then I started my own crew out here and started to recruit peeple and we got up to 95 people runing and the after 3 weeks I went on the run and I was on the run for 3 months and got arrested and booked into DTand then will I was in their I met and old freind and the we got switched to another unit together and then we became cell mates and then he left to another program I went to court righta fter he left and found out I was going to O&A and then after about 4 weeks in DT I left to come to O&A and I saw an old freind and then she left and I started adjusting to the program and how I'm ready to go home.

TB, age 15

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is Sloth Whisperer

Dear Sarah
I deserve to be hired as a sloth whisperer because I am 300% devoted to slothes. I've put my very own life on the line for a sloths entertainment. More than 12 years of my life have been spent deep in the jungle bonding and observing sloths. In this time I have obtained the traits of a sloth and I can do everything they can and interact with them successfully. When I was born the doctors performed an experimental surgery on my brain. They implanted a device that not only allows me to talk to sloths, but I can read their minds.

PC, age 17

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is football player

You should picke me ccs I am the best football player you will ever mete I will make you a lote of money and if you do picke me you wont regret it and I need the money my family is not so rich at the time I was my the only one who has arms and lages and I am the best football player ever.

KK, age 14

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is Marine Bioligest

Dear Sarah, I think you should hire me to be a marine biologest because it is something that I have always wanted to do. I would be the best marine biologest you could every think of because I would actually wake up in the morning and love going to my job unlike most people who hate going to their jobs. Also I would do my best to make new discoveries and find new ways of life and I can asure you that in the futer you would not look back and regret hiring me as a marine bioligest.

MT, age 16

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is a doctor

Dear Sarah, I would be a very good doctor because I have gone over to Africa to help the starving children and the sick two times. Also I have gone to college for 8 years and also med. school twice. I once performed open heart surgery on a camping trip in the middle of the wilderness with nothing but anastesya and a steak knife.

JP, age 18

Everyone Has a Story: "Getting Help"

When I was ten I was abused physcially and my mom was almost beat to death and my brother was hit and my sister was hit and my ear drum was damaged. I finally got sick of being abused so I ran to a niebors house and asked to use thir phone then I called my grandma to come and get me and when she did I told her everything that was happening at my mom's house and she filed a protective order for me my mom my brothers and sister and when [the abuser] was gone we started to recover from the abuse. went slowly at first.

LH, age 14

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is Case Worker

Dear Sarah,
I would be excellent in this job because first of all, I absoulutely love children. I love and enjoy working with different types of kids, and all ages. I know perfectley how the system works. The experiences I've been through in my past will help me relate to them. I understand how it feels to not have love and support. Its extremeley hard having to go through life without someone by your side who is always ther to support you and motivate you. No one has to go through this alone. So I want to be there for the kids to give them that boost they need in order to keep going. I want to show them that life doesn't have to be the way it is. There is hope and faith. I'm not going to lie and say that life is easy. Because obviously, everyone knows it's not. Nobody's perfect. Yes we will make bad decisions and mistakes more than once. I have no right to judge these kids by what they've done and neither does anyone else! I've made many mistakes and have done things I regret, and am not proud of. But we learn from those mistakes. It's our job to help these kids change their lives around, Not by judging them and bringing stuff up that has already happend. I want to help them move on to the next phase in their lives. Make them realize that life dosen't revolve around parties, drugs/alcohol or gangs. I also know what it's like living on the streets. It's hard out there. Sometimes, if your lucky enough, you'll find a warm place to sleep. I want to get both girls & boys off the streets, show them that their not alone, and that anything's possible. Many of my experiences actually benefit me because "I've been their, done that." I want to work with girls who have been sexually, emotionally, or physically abused. I want every girl to know that "It's never your fault." No matter what people have said or what happened in the past. You can hold onto it, and let anger and pain take-over you. Or you can simply let it go and be free and turn it into something positive, so that you, and the person after you can inspire young teens and adults all over the world. Don't let your past affect your future.

S. G., age 14

"My Dream Job" --a persuasive writing assignment

My dream job is to be a pharmacist tech.

Dear Sarah, I deserve this job because I am the most qualified person for the job. I have attended Harvard med for most of my life and have earned every degree possible. Also, you will make a lot of money by hiring me because I have discovered the cure to AIDS and cancer--- it is ice cream.

AM, age 16