Hi. My name is Danielle, and I was part of the first YouthWorks! graduating class.
When I was 21, I was between jobs and unsure what to do next. I had dropped out of college the year before, and was struggling to find my direction. Technically, I come from a �broken home.� My parents are divorced and at the time I found YouthWorks! they were both between jobs and struggling with depression off and on since I was 17. Although my parents have always been supportive, they couldn�t help me figure out my future as they were so overwhelmed with their own problems.
When I first attended the YouthWorks! program, I was unsure if it was for me. I felt lumped with a lot of kids I didn�t have much in common with. The IYR staff was super friendly, but I wasn�t sure I was in the right place.
I don�t know exactly when, but at some point I really opened up to the Thought Patterns curriculum. I realized it made a lot of sense, I was in control of my life events. This was incredibly liberating. In YouthWorks! I learned how to keep a positive attitude. I became very optimistic. I felt empowered to try new opportunities, things that would have been too scary before.
My connection to the Youth ranch has taught me how to ask for and receive support. I�ve learned to open up a lot and embrace love. I can let my guard down, because I don�t feel judged for my past decisions and circumstances or where I�m at now in my life. I feel taken care of.
My journey through the program changed my life. I�ve taken risks I would never have taken otherwise. Since graduation from YouthWorks! I�ve been a live-in therapist at a group home for adult men with developmental disabilities, a child-care provider, and a college English teacher I China!
Before, I would�ve been too intimidated to try any of these positions. Because I have faith the Youth Ranch is there to catch me if I fall and that �failing� is not the end of the world, I no longer feel so weighed down by problems. I realize the problems are normal and part of life and I get to decide how to react to them. Letting negative emotions control life decisions is no way to live. I focus on my development and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing so much.
Now I have come full-circle and am back at college. I just finished my fourth and final year at BSU. I graduated in of December 2017.
I can accept my past. I made those decisions for a reason and the decisions don�t need to be seen as good or bad; they were the best I could do at the time. Where I am now is A-Okay. I don�t have to compare to others. I can create my own version of success, and live according to my values.
I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for making my scholarship and the YouthWorks! program possible.
The financial freedom the Idaho Youth Ranch scholarship provides ensured that I finished my Bachelor�s degree. Without the Youth ranch�s support I might be tempted to give up when the going gets rough. Having the support system of the Youth Ranch means the world to me. It would not be possible without the support and backing of donors and volunteers.
I know that no matter where my journey takes me, I will always carry the Youth ranch with me.
Sincerely,
Danielle
