Dear Reaching Higher,
Before this I never knew how people I just met help me through times of sorrow. I sat in this chair for 8 weeks trying to find a reason to even be here. I use to struggle to even give myself a positive attitude everyday, now I feel comfortable enough to say how I feel. This class wasn’t just a reason to get out of class, it was my personal, real life diary. This had made me think of the reasons I am put here, not for myself but for others as well. I always want this class to exist, it has helped me with my feelings, my depression and my own personality. Every time I step in this class I feel home, I am greeted and I see smiles from everyone. I feel like I have a purpose and it’s all because of this. From the deepest part of my heart THANK YOU!
1 June, 2011
Pontiac, MI
This program has given me many advantages and abilities. I never thought that I’d have people that understands me and has full compassion for my true character.
Before Reaching Higher, I was very unconfidencial about myself. I was shy, and although I had people that told me I was beautiful, I haven’t quite felt that I was. I was teased because of my size. I thought that things could only get worse and not better, but then, there came you; you have helped me with many things.
I have made many changes. I am more focused in school, because I no longer have to worry that I am unwanted. I have learned to appreciate myself for who I truly am. I have also learned to be the best person I can be.
Now that I have had the opportunity to attend your program, I am more confident, I get better grades, and I no longer worry about what people think of me. The “I am” rock has given me the strength to get up everyday, knowing that I am special. The “feather” helps motivate me to reach my goals and fly to them. Not only have I become a better person, but I have also learned to love!
Thank you for the opportunity. I appreciate all of the hugs, applauses, gifts, thoughts, emotions and hearts. You have truly helped open up the real me. I am somebody and prepare to tell the world. Thank you so very much.
1 June, 2011
Dear Reaching Higher,
Today I will be writing a letter that will be a rememberable thing in my life. Before I walked into this classroom I felt like a regular kid. Everyday I came to school and acted like someone I’m not. I kept the past with me everywhere I went. I didn’t want to make any decisions in my life because of what happened in my past.
Sometimes I feel like there is a reason I was put in this class. There is a reason I came. In my eyes the reason I came was because it made it made me feel welcome, wanted, needed, loved, and real. It has changed me so much. The fact that my dad is gone, doesn’t mean I can’t live my life. I know he will always be in my heart everywhere I go.
This class has made a huge impact on my life. It has made me realize I can’t keep everything inside all bundled up. I need to have a plan. It wasn’t just the class who has changed me, but also the adults / teachers / helpers that have influenced me so much. Just sitting there listening to what they have to say. Just knowing they go through or have been through hard times. Seeing them come to this class shows they care and are dedicated. In my life has always been about caring about everyone else before myself, but now I have realized I have to care about myself too. I need to do better in school, at home, friends, and relationships.
My life today is a way I would never picture it. I will be attending college. I will be the first kid in my family to even go to college. It makes me feel good about myself. I am now getting better grades and have many friends that I love, trust, and care for. My life is less stressful. This is because of the changes I have made and the help I received from Reaching Higher.
Before Reaching Higher… I was lost. That’s one sentence that could sum up everything. I didn’t know who I was and I didn’t know who I wanted to be. Everything started to slip away from me, friends, family, my grades lowered unimaginably. Before Reaching Higher I just kind of walked around with a fake smile on my face. Hiding myself under a mask of who everyone wanted me to be and what they expected of me. I wasn’t living I was just simply existing. I felt like I was dying on the inside like no one could help me. That this was all life was you just went through it and died and hoped something better was waiting for you on the other wise. I just thought I was nobody and that I could never be as happy as those girls who walk around always smiling looking absolutely perfect all the time. I had many suicide attempts which put me in the hospital at U of M for a week. At that point I knew I had hit rock bottom. I felt like my life was falling apart. When I didn’t even know it was all just beginning to come together. All those bad things in life the things people say to hurt you and do… it just blocks what’s really beautiful out there that life is so worth living! Before Reaching Higher I couldn’t even look in the mirror without thinking oh I’m so ugly and oh I need to lose five pounds this I need to lose 10 pounds that I thought that just being me would never be enough. I used to think oh who could ever love me I’m a disappointment I mess up everyone’s life… but now I can look in the mirror and say I am beautiful I am somebody! And I’m not just anybody… I’m [ ] when I first walked into Reaching Higher I thought you’re joking right? How do you possibly think you can help me? Nobody can I’m hopeless. Then I saw the look in all your eyes so caring and loving I didn’t understand how you could love someone you barely knew. The first few weeks I had my walls built up of course my trust issues kept me from participating… but after about halfway through the 2nd class… the walls just broke down and I felt something I never had before… hope. I had hope. I had hope that things would be ok and I’d be able to laugh and be happy and stop caring what everyone thoguht and said about me. Honestly if it wasn’t for Reaching Higher I don’t know where I’d be right now from all the just terrible things I had been involved I just look back and think what low self-esteem I had to think I made life threatening choices to fit in or just feel happy… when everything I needed to be happy was right here in my heart. I can probably truly say I am the happiest person I have ever been because I’ve realized I don’t need a scum bag boy, the perfect body, money, harmful substances, that 100 dollar pair of jeans… I don’t need the prettiest face or the skinniest waist to be happy… none of you do because your all beautiful inside and out. I love every single one of you… and I want to thank you so much for helping me find true happiness.
Imagine yourself sitting in a classroom with your teacher talking over your classmates talking over her. Imagine yourself walking through the hallway that is as crazy as a circus but you think it is as dull as a dungeon. Imagine yourself sitting in front of a science test and blanking out. This was my life before Reaching Higher.
On my journey to completing Reaching Higher I have learned many things. I have learned how to breathe when I am under pressure during a test. I’ve learned how to smile constantly at new people, even if they don’t smile back. But, the best life skill I’ve learned was, you give, others give back. Or, as some might know it as, the rippling affect. When you do something nice to others, they will do good things back or good things to other people.
Imagine yourself sitting in your classroom learning everything possible. Imagine yourself walking through the hallway smiling at every person you pass. Imagine yourself sitting in front of a science test knowing all the answers. This is my life after Reaching Higher.
At the beginning of this class my life was in shambles… The relationship I was in was a very poor one, the choices I was making were not the right ones, and I was suicidal.
This class turned out to be completely different from what I thought it was going to be. From the first session I knew I had found the help I needed. As soon as I shared what was going on in my life I felt a sort of calmness come over me.
As the weeks went by and the classes reached deeper and deeper into helping, my problems got better. The thoughts of suicide faded away, I got out of the relationship, and I’ve taken hold of my depression.
So here I am now, 9 weeks later, graduating from the class that saved my life. Because of Reaching Higher I now know that I am strong, that I am my own person, that no matter what life throws my way, I will be able to handle it.
I was given the tools I need to make the best of life. Thank you all so much for everything you have done. I know God put you here for a reason and that you are working miracles.
All of you and everything you have done will remain in my heart forever.
One thing I will never forget is… yes I can!
To whomever it may concern,
I came into Reaching Higher last year in the spring. Back then I was your typical shut in high school boy, I was quiet, shy and had a lot pent up inside me. I walked in the first day to see Susie with a huge smile on her face and open arms. That was the first day of the rest of my life. From that day on I have come a brand new person. I used to not have any sense of self worth or self image, I looked awful. Two weeks into RH I totally changed my image, I shaved my beard and cut my long shaggy hair. I became a totally different person. I have joined multiple groups such as above the influence and the yellow ribbon program. Now just recently I came back to Reaching Higher as a graduate assistant to help Susie and the other GA’s.
Since this was my second time around instead of focusing on my own changes I focused on the changes that the other students made. I saw kids make leaps and bounds in just nine weeks. I thought it was amazing seeing some people explode out of their shells and blossom into beautiful outspoken people. I was so privileged to be part of this group again. This is truly the greatest group for kids in high school it will change lives in ways you can only imagine. You truly have to see it to believe it.
I went from a guy who’s only purpose was to look tough and be tough so no one would mess with me, to being an outgoing, strong hearted and open individual. I used to not be able to stand people now I can’t get enough of people. I may be biased on it but for a good reason. Reaching Higher can improve lives, save kids, and change the world. I give my full support to this group and so should you.
To whom it may concern,
When I first joined Reaching Higher, I felt unimportant and also that life was fading away. When everyone else around me was going to football games and hanging out with their friends I didn’t care to do that. I sat at home a lot and that people wouldn’t want me there anyways so I never cared to look good or put make-up on. I felt that I was sitting through life and it was the same way in school. But when I walked into Reaching Higher everyone was so positive and welcoming I felt like the most important person in the room. It allowed me to want to talk about my problems and also try to make life better. Reaching Higher gave me something to look forward to between every Tuesday knowing I would get to see everyone and go to class or because of the letters I got in the mail every week from my G.A. I found myself talking to others, going out with friends, and looking nice. My parents bought me nice clothes because I showed more of an interest to want to wear them. And my grades got better. Before Reaching Higher I had never passed a chemistry test and lately I got an 89% on a chapter test and 95% on a vocabulary quiz. There are things in life that I still struggle from but it’s not life that I’m struggling from anymore; just the little things in it. I would like to take this time to say thank you to everyone that helped me out at Reaching Higher.
Dear Reaching Higher:
I’m writing this letter to not only you guys as staff members, but my heroes as well. When I began this class I really was a bad kid, and I was very hurt and confused, and alone. I was suicidal, on drugs hanging around the wrong people, hurting my family and friends, and just wasn’t myself.
As the program started I was best friends with [ ], I didn’t want to be there because I hated letting my feelings and real emotions be seen by others. [ ] convinced me it was fun, and it would really help. So I stayed. As I kept going every Friday, I noticed something. I shared my first thoughts about my mom without crying. I got up in front of others and talked about what was going on with me, and sometimes I let it all out.
I gained confidence; I began making better choices for myself. I no longer had suicidal thoughts or attempts. I got close with my family and friends, but most importantly my Mom and Myself. I stopped using drugs. I said goodbye to all those “friends” who were no good for me. I made new friends who were good for me. Did better in tennis, at home, and ALL my grades went from E’s and D’s to A’s and B’s.
I got my best friends [ ] back. But, words can never express what this program really did for me though. It changed me for the better, gave me my life back, and gave me a future, so bright, I need an Electric Purple shades to see it!
I am so thankful for all you have done for me. The one good thing I can honestly say I pulled from [ ]‘s friendship and mine was this program. You all saved my life and myself.
Now I can walk with my shoulders back and chin up and conquer the obstacles that are going to lead me to my dream.
Thank you all so very much. I love you with all of my heart forever and always.
Dear Reaching Higher,
For most of the 16 years of my life, I thought I was never good enough. Many people had put me down, and told me I would end up just as my father did, that I would become a loser who would never succeed. I’ve held these words within me, and I’ve never thought “hey I can do this,” until I took this course. I can honestly say that this has been the most life changing thing yet that I’ve ever done. This class has taught me that I am a special individual and that I do matter. I have grown as a human being, by learning the importance of acceptance, individuality, forgiveness, appreciation, and love. This class has helped me not forget my past, but evolve from it. It has helped me overcome the hatred and doubt in my life and has shown me that I can succeed. I can do anything. I have self-worth, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
During this course, I have grown exponentially. I am continuously expressing my appreciation for everyone I cherish in my life, I am doing my homework, I am projecting self-confidence, and I am realizing more and more everyday that I can succeed. I plan on following through with all these in the future as well, because in the end, they will help me become the person I want to be. Unfortunately, I cannot say how this will all play out in the future, but I do believe that anything is possible. I believe that I will become successful because I know I can do anything I set my mind to do, I believe I will be a better partner because I have gained so much self-confidence, and a better friend because I now understand the importance of being a genuine person in someone’s life.
In the past eight weeks, not only did my perspective on myself and my life grow, but my love for my peers in this class, and the counselors as well. You have seen me strong, you have seen me weak, you have heard me voice things in my life that I love and hate, you have been there for me when my stress level rocketed, and you have made me a better person, not only by challenging me, but guiding me. That appreciation that I have for everyone in this class is overwhelming. Susie and Donna, I have an immense amount of love and respect for both of you, and all the volunteers as well.
Thank you for everything you have done for me, I love you.
