"At Lighthouse School®, the teachers make me feel that no matter what mistakes I make, I'm still not a bad person."
- Seth
"Things are different now, I can make friends and keep them. When I have problems with friends, I can solve them, even out in my own neighborhood."
- Jack
"It used to be that I didn't trust anyone. I trust people more now. I respect myself more. APEX® was important because after a while, I started to understand where all the anger was coming from and why I didn't respect myself. That resolving conflict stuff works good now, before I wouldn't have anything to do with it."
- Robert
"Being able to interact with other people, socialize, participate... those things I never had in my life before coming here. It taught me a lot about myself and about other people."
- Juan
"Before I came to Lighthouse School I always got into conflicts with others. When I came to Lighthouse they sat down and talked with us about how we feel and when we get into conflicts with each other. They helped us to learn about how to deal with our feelings."
- Mike
"Respecting others; self-respect; dealing with emotions; showing your emotions... I've learned there is more than one way to settle."
- Juan
"I was really violent. Serious stuff--hurting people, stabbing people. ...My relationship with teachers is different at Lighthouse School. ...Teachers here treat you with respect. ...People talk to me and help me to think about things differently. I'm a happier person. I think the future will be good if I can stay out of trouble and make some right decisions. If I stayed at my other school, I'd probably have hurt someone. I'd be in jail."
- Paul
"There are so many people at Lighthouse School which have done so much that to be totally honest with you I don't have enough time or paper to explain what these beautiful people have done for me."
- Greg
"When I was a kid... I think we were on welfare... $7000 a year for a family of 4 kids, and I was thinking, that's what I pay in taxes now. Isn't that amazing?"
- Juan
"When I first came to the Lighthouse School, I was very shy and I kept most of my emotions inside. Lighthouse School has taught me how to share my feelings. ...Here at Lighthouse School they help you resolve your conflict."
- Audrey
"Now I feel as if I'm on my way towards the life I wanted; be what I'm capable of being; capable of getting a job now. I'm easier to get along with now. I'm not at odds with myself. I can make friends."
- Tim
"It's helped me realize I can talk about my feelings. I have feelings and I can share them with other people. I feel like I can give people a chance now ...to know me...before I couldn't give people a chance."
- Jose
"I think I've changed in a lot of ways. I talk about my feelings more. It makes me feel better. I used to bottle them up inside, and I'd blow up because I held my feelings in so long. I've grown up."
- Paula
"I have learned how to resolve conflicts. I have learned something about myself--That I have the ability to live up to my potential. I learned something about trust. I used to not be able to trust a lot of people, but there are a lot of people I can trust here at Lighthouse School. This school is different from other schools I attended. This school teaches you not only academics, but also to talk about your feelings, life skills, to make friends, get along with others, be appropriate and resolve conflicts. Even when us kids make mistakes, I've learned that I'm still special and that they will still care about me. I love Lighthouse School. ...I haven't even been at Lighthouse for 1 year and already I have learned so much and have changed a lot."
- Rose
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