"I put [staff] through hell and not only did they say every day is a fresh start, they actually meant it. Eventually it showed me that they weren’t going to give up on me and that I might as well try… Lighthouse showed me what the expectations were, what work I had to do, but then gave me the space to do things at my own pace. Because of that, I was able to do things because I wanted to do them, not because other people made me do it, and for me that makes all the difference.” - S.J

"I have Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, and ADHD. I had been to other schools and was in DCF custody for a couple of years before coming to Lighthouse. I observed right away how people treated each other and the kids here. I wasn’t ready for that. I had a hard time trusting people and didn’t open up much. My emotions would build up and then I would yell and scream. Slowly, I began letting my emotions out by sharing with people I was starting to trust. I developed a lot of relationships with staff here and they really helped me to trust others. I finally realized that I built a family here at school. People accepted me for who I am and loved me. 

Thank you, Lighthouse, for everything." —D.B