Friday, February 28, 2014

Today is my last official day at RRA. I am so excited to leave and nervous too. I have waited so long for this moment to come. I am ready to go home and start my life. Red River was probably the thing that saved my life. I never imagined getting my high school diploma until I came here. I was going to drop out of school and move in with friends and work. I came here and had a brand new mind-set. I will miss everyone and I will never forget all of the things that I learned while I was here. Kris W.
I got to see my dad on last week for an on-campus visit. I want to work hard so that I can earn level four so that I can go on on off-ground so that I can spend some time away from the facility and hopefully with my siblings. I have not seen my siblings since my mom passed away. I have done a lot of work within myself since they last seen me. When my siblings last seen me I was not such a great role model for them because I had a lot going on and it was not very positive. I now have changed a lot of negative patterns of behavior and I want my family to see the positive side of me. I feel so much better about myself and I actually care about others. Morgan J.

Friday, February 21, 2014

I have been back to the school for about 2 weeks since I had my homepass. I had urges to want drugs when I was at home. I did not do any but I had many triggers that came up. I think that it was from seeing old environments and old places that I use to hang out at when I was back at home before I came to the program. I know that since I came back to the school I no longer have those urges so I know that a lot of that has to do with structure. I clearly understand that when I do go home for good, I am going to need plenty of structure. Steve M.
As I sit back and think about my journey here at RRA I see that I came a long way in my program. Today was a huge eye opener for me because someone that I was very close with left today. I never thought that I would come here and make connections with the other girls like I did. I learned a lot from my peer that left today, she pushed me when I did not want to do anything in my program but most of all she encouraged me when I would not encourage myself. I never really knew what the true definiton of a friend really was. I always thought that you had to please your friends and do what they wanted you to do or I would not fit in. I learned that a true friend supports you all of the time. They are honest with you even when we don't want to hear the truth, they never let you settle for less. Another thing that I have learned is how to be a friend and that it is just as important to give than to receive in a relationship. Today was a sad day for me but at the same time I learned a lot from today too. Karen G.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

I hope everyone is having a good week! I have been feeling good lately! :) Time is passing by so fast! I hope my family is doing good! I miss them very much! & I hope every one has a good Valentine's day on Friday!! I hope my sister has a wonderful trip to Vegas! & I hope my Step dad has a good birthday this month!!!! I hope all is well with everyone I don't like this cold weather -__- I want summer to come! :) Hope everyone has a good day!! I love Mrs. Latrice! <3 - Karen G

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

I got a chance to see my mom for an on-campus visit. Since the visit I believe that it was a push for me because not only have I managed to be consistent in my program but I have worked through some issues around letting go of negative people in my life that I thought cared about me. I have finally come to realize that not everyone that I happen to meet will be there in a good way for me. I had to learn the hard way that I trust people way to easily and where it is good at times, in many of my cases it has not been for the good of me but I am finally touching reality with that. When I seen my sisters it was great but at the same time it was a slap in the face because I got to see how much I mean to them and how important that it is to continue working my program so that I can get home to me because all that I have been through my sisters still look up to me and it makes me sad to know that I hurt them. I am not going to dwell on this because I can only change things from today on. I have to remind myself that what is done is done but it is hard. Layne W.
Can't wait to go into the Navy soon. It has been great here at RRA but I am ready to start my life finally. It has been a tough journey but I can say that I made it with the help of my peers and the staff here. I would not change this experience for anything. Kris W.