My stay at The Family Foundation School has been many things, but one thing it has not been is full of regrets. I remember when I first walked in the doors of the school; I had just left a wilderness program and willingly came to the school, well as willing as a fifteen year old kid, who didn’t want to listen to anyone, could be. I felt like I was on a different planet, I looked at the people walking through the halls and everyone was smiling at me, all I thought was, what the hell are they looking at. Once I was told the rules I got my game plan, I was going to be, as my sponsor would call it, the golden boy. I was going to do nothing wrong, well at least nothing anyone would find out about; then I would get out of this stupid place as fast as possible. Three years later and here I am. Needless to say my plan didn’t work.

I have had countless fun times at this school; there is one event that has always stuck in my mind. One night I heard a loud whimpering coming from the boot closet, it sounded like,”hmmm”. I approached the room and the sound grew louder, when I turned the corner I witnessed Oleg being brutally punished for calling Louis his dreaded nick name, moose. He was being tickled in a way that is hard to describe and is only characteristic to Oleg. This did not only happen on one occasion it would begin to become a nightly coliseum event in the dorm for all the guys to watch and laugh. I’m sorry about the torture Oleg I hope you can forgive us and always remember, true story.

I can remember a time when telling the truth was basically impossible for me. I remember a string of table topics I had because I had been caught in a negative contract with a girl. Even when I had been found out I still found myself unable to tell the full truth. I kept getting up day after day and everyone was tired of my unwillingness to be honest. I was in the corner for two weeks straight and hated the world; I felt like I had no friends, I felt like I was worthless. Eventually I was brought up to Paul office for a conference call with my parents. Before going in I said a prayer with a friend, I prayed that I could grow up, be a man, and take responsibility for what I had done. I didn’t know what I was going to do but I knew I was going to be honest. I came out of that phone call a lot different than when I had gone in. I finally got honest and told it like it was. Thanks Paul for helping me get honest, and even though I hated you for it I don’t think I would have changed if it weren’t for you always pushing me.

Today I have very different goals than from when I got here, the number one thing I strive for is to be the man God wants me to be. Thank you father Steven for helping me find what that is, and thank you also for treating me like your own son.
If I thanked everyone who has helped at this school we would never finish this speech, so I must settle for the blanket statement, thank you to everyone who has impacted my life even, in the smallest ways it means a lot to me. Even when I was a jerk people were always there to help.

I know without a doubt that I have been saved by coming to this school. I can thank my parents for this gift that was at times hard to appreciate. Dad for all the crap I put you through you still stood by me, I hope one day I can be as good a man as you. Ma, I don’t really know what to say besides you’re the best mom anyone could ever have and even though I don’t always show it, I love so much.

To the newcomer the best thing I ever did for myself was tell the truth even when I was scared, always know that being brave is not the absence of fear, but going through it spite of your greatest fears.

To the graduating class of 2009: Love others as God loves you. Remember works of love are works of peace. God bless you.

Paul P. – December 2009 Alumni