Interviews with 4 of the Graduate Students regarding Their Experiences at Turning Winds Academic Institute

Service Projects allow Students to Find the Joy in Helping Others

"Throughout my stay I have done so many service projects.  In every project I have done I always have a great feeling afterwards.  I now have come to realize helping people is really helping me help myself.  What I mean by this is I spend most of my time working on myself, and it feels so good when I put energy into others."  ~ Skylar M.

"Since the beginning of my stay at Turning Winds, I have been taught to work hard in every aspect of my program.  One of the ways that the staff here encourages us to build a strong work ethic is by doing service projects.  These can range from fixing something around the campus to helping a community member with things they need at their home.  These projects have allowed me to improve upon myself immensely, proving that a strong, industrious personality can lend to MANY positive things.  I appreciate what the staff allow and encourage us to do here, and I believe that the service projects I have done here have built me into the hard-working man that I am."    ~Ethan D.

"Service projects have taught me quite a bit.  I have gained a ton of experience through them.  I have learned how to do things that I never thought I would be able to do.  Creating the service projects is a large part of the learning process.  We are challenged to come up with something worthwhile and meaningful as well as a plan to get it done.  My favorite part of the service project is the end when we look at all we accomplished.  It is so satisfying.  But what is even more satisfying is getting that "Thank You", from the person you have served."   ~Holly S.

"One of my off-campus service projects was working on a garden for an individual who had broken her arm.  All she had was a fenced-in pile of dirt when we arrived.  Throughout the day, we dug up rows, planted, mulched, and watered everything.  There were tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, peas, cucumbers, broccoli, rhubarb, strawberries, corn, herbs, beans and sunflowers.  It was hard work, but it was so rewarding.  It was amazing to see all of us make something out of nothing.  Most of the girls who worked that day had never worked for anything before.  So it left us feeling confident, capable, and accomplished.  I am really glad that I was able to be part of this project, because I still have those feelings now and apply them to many things in my life."   ~Kelly

Letter from a past Parent of Turning Winds Academic Institute

Here is a letter from a past parent on how Turning Winds Academic Institute has impacted their lives (names have been withheld for privacy):
"Hello Turning Winds,
I have just received your latest newsletter and felt compelled to respond. My duaghtner was a resident of Turning Winds for 13 months. She returned home almost 3 yrs ago. How the time has flown by. She has just graduated high school, one year early. She is working 2 jobs, and will be starting college in October. The transformation has been phenomenal. She is a completely different girl now. She has goals, ambition, and a desire to succeed in life, something I though she might not ever have. Most important she has learned how to be real, to have feelings, compassion, and empathy for others. I believe she has found the true meaning of the words family and friendship. These things it seems we could not teach our daughter. The decision to send her to Turning Winds I can honestly say was the most difficult decision her father and I have ever had to make. Sending her literally across the country and entrusting her to complete strangers was mind boggling to say the least. Not to mention the financial burden. Now 3 years later, we can say with complete conviction it was the best decision we could have ever made. My husband and I had to deal with family and close friends who flt that our decision was harsh and not necessary, their feeling was that she was going through a phase and she would grow out of it. We knew that was not the case, and had we not made this decision I am certain our beautiful child would no longer be with us. I want to say Thank You to Turning Winds Academic Institute, thank you to the wonderful, compassionate staff that facilitated the transformation of our child. This could never have happened without you." ~Parent of TWAI

We would love to hear your stories of how you are doing...where you are at...it is wonderful to hear how things are going!