Fun at Ross Creek Cedars in October!

Student Reflection from Yellowstone Trip

"During my trip to Yellowstone, I felt like I gained many things emotionally.  The experience itself impacted me in several ways.  I never have been much of a leader.  I always was, or chose to be second in command, or be a follower.  I didn't truly understand the leadership role.  But while in Yellowstone, I started to show more leadership qualities that I had inside of me.  I just needed a way to show them.  Each day, I wanted to be in the front of the "hiking line".  I wanted to help guide everyone along the path.  I also encouraged others to do their best.  One of the girls did not like that because I just kept pushing her to try harder.  I knew she could do it so I continued to encourage and challenge her to keep going. 

I also gained many relationships with the other girls.  I never felt that I was really close to them, sort of just kept to myself.  But each day, I grew to know each one more and more.  We all made memories that will last us a lifetime.  I think my favorite time was when we would sit around the campfire after dinner and have small group.  There were different topics each night that everyone would share.  I also appreciate these girls more than ever.   I grew to have a lot more respect for each one of them.  

My ultimate favorite part of the trip was experiencing the waterfalls.  Sitting and listening to the roar of these huge falls, I felt peaceful within myself.  I had that feeling that everything was going to be okay.  And I realized that no matter what happens, life will still go on.  Those waterfalls will still keep roaring with power, even if I have a bad day.  It was powerful within me.  I enjoyed it very much!"  ~Beth G.

Student Reflection on Yellowstone Venturing Trip

"Yellowstone was an experience of a life time.  I took a lot from it both emotionally and physically.  Emotionally, we all had many opportunities to learn about ourselves.  During this time I reflected on my life before coming to Turning Winds, my life during Turning Winds, and what I want my life to be like after Turning Winds Academic Institute.  Staff lead groups throughout the trip that allowed us all to step outside of our comfort zone and mentally push ourselves to new places.

We had times when we had to push ourselves physically too.  Each day we had a point on the trail that we had to reach.  On some days we were very sore and tired, but we had to just keep moving.  I learned how much I am actually capable of doing if I push myself. 

Yellowstone was a great opportunity.  I am so grateful that I was able to participate." ~Nick M.

Former Student of Turning Winds Academic Institute Earns His Eagle Scout

"My name is Josh McMullens and I was a resident at Turning Winds Academic Institute from June 2010 to June 2011.  I arrived at the school with several goals in mind, but one was to complete an Eagle Project for the Boys Scouts of America.  In early October, after establishing a good amount of trust, I met with John Baisden Sr. and started planning my project. I decided to build five heavy- duty picnic tables and ten separate benches for the school.  Throughout the following months, I would work to organize an adult supervisor and crew of boys from the school to go and do the work.  A member of the community offered the use of the shop at his home to do the project.  I completed my project in the first week of June.  On September 21, 2011, I had my Eagle Board of Review and passed.  I would like to thank my parents, friends at Turning Winds, and the staff (especially John Sr.) for all of their help and support.  I am now an Eagle Scout!" 

Many Thanks,

Josh McMullens

Josh's accomplishment is a living testimony to the fact that with hard work and dedication goals can be met.  All of us here at Turning Winds Academic Institute would like to say,

"Congratulations Josh!  Job well done.  Keep up the good work. Continue to challenge yourself and set goals you will reach infinite heights.”

Virtue Project on Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Hello, my name is Taylor. I’m 15 years old and am currently a student at Turning Winds Academic Institute. I have been here for just about seven months.

            This virtue is personal for me because of the mistakes I have made, and the mistakes that have been made in my family. I personally, have done some things to myself and my family that are hard for me to forgive. I am working on letting go and learning from my mistakes so I know and am cautious not to make them again. I would not like to go into my experiences because they are still painful for me but I can give you the overall idea.

            At home, I was not being the girl I knew I could be. I had gotten into drugs, self mutilation, lying, stealing, and had lost my family. Because of my drug use, I pulled my younger brother into it and he began to deal. I put myself in a hospital bed because of the things I was doing and deeply hurt my family. In the end, my mother couldn’t take it any longer and decided to make the decision to send me here. At first I hated my mom. I thought she hated me and didn’t want me anymore and wanted to get rid of me. I thought she was trying to force me to let go of the only things that really made me, me. Around my fourth month I realized, my mom wasn’t trying to break me down and hurt me, she was trying to help me. Being here, I know that Turning Winds has saved my life. There is something I remember my mom said to me on a phone call around my third or fourth month, she said, “Taylor, sending you to Turning Winds was one of the hardest and easiest choices I’ve ever made. It was the hardest because I was letting you go for a year. It was the easiest because I was scared, that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have you in a year.” When she said this, I understood the depth to which I had hurt my family.

            Forgiveness has been a long process for me. I’ve had to find it in myself to forgive myself for the things I did and the pain I caused. I’ve had to forgive my father for the pain he has caused. After a while, I realized, it’s much easier to forgive others than to forgive yourself.

            True forgiveness to me, does not mean forgetting, moving past, or even letting go of an offense. It is about learning from it and realizing you  have made a mistake. Though it is still something that I am working on, I greatly encourage others to practice this virtue. Forgiveness can lift a burden on the heart and can open your eyes to new things.

            Thank you for your time. I hope I may have enlightened for you the eyes of a student and the dreams and hopes we have. I hope to go far and I’d like to thank you for giving me the chance to. Turning Winds Academic Institute's staff and program have saved my life and are helping me accomplish all that I know I can, and will.