From: Executive Director Jack Duckworth

To: Youth who are at RYC

Welcome. There have been many hours put into this book. The youth who have been here before you have left you messages that you should pay attention to. There are also letters from program directors and supervisors to give you their best words of wisdom for you to use while you are here, and hopefully for life.

This is my message to you. Become over-compliant, over-respectful, and over-achieve. There are many reasons why you are here and some reasons may not be your fault. This is the time in your life for you to be preparing to become an adult. You will only be young for a short period and then you will be competing in the adult world. What you are setting up now will dictate many things in your life later on. Everyone could benefit from spending time planning what they want to be and how they are going to become that. So don’t waste your time.

Strive for excellence. If you are in mainstream school, have a 3.5 grade point average or better. It is not only doable, but may not require as much work as you think. If you are in the alternative school, make a minimum of nine sections or 50% per week, and maintain a credit per month completion pace. Follow all program and school rules. Try to stay on level the entire time you’re here. Work hard in your counseling sessions. Be open and honest. Be a hard worker, and you will be surprised how much you can accomplish.

Work for super health: lift weights, run, play sports, eat well, and be drug and alcohol free. If you smoke cigarettes, quit. Eliminate all the variables in your life that you are tripping on, and you will be amazed how smart and successful you can be. You have an opportunity to develop relationships and to discover your inner strengths. If you work hard, you will not only learn systems and strategies that will promote success, you will become successful. It amazes me to see the increase of self-esteem and the black cloud that lifts off someone who is struggling and beat down when they overcome their challenges. You will discover a truth in life, that “it is what you make of it”.

Learn as much about self-discipline as you can. You can never have enough of it. Learn how to work hard and put out effort to achieve your dreams. Be the hardest worker you know. Be proud of your achievements and be kind to others. We all struggle, and being a kind person is one of the most important things you can be. Become the kind of person that people gravitate toward. Try to make everyone your friend and on your team. Friends and family who offer you support will enhance your life and you will always have someone to share and spend time with.

I hope you enjoy reading the stories by other youth. They have some incredible triumphs and will share their stories on how they got back into the game of life. Learn all you can from others who have gone before you.

In closing, this is your life. Make your life special and your dreams come true.

Jack Duckworth

Director