[Girls & Boys Town]

Let's Talk About Experiences At Girls and Boys Town...
I just was (and still am at times) an angry young man. Prescription drug abuse and alcoholism just pushed me over the edge and I lost control.

While at Girls and Boys Town of Southern California, I learned that I needed to take a break and that nobody owes me anything. I didn't always agree with the point system (the system that Girls and Boys Town employs to help youth positively change their behaviors) but it gave me something to do, and that was enough in itself.

I learned to accept the decisions of those put in authority and to disagree appropriately when necessary. I failed every single class my junior year in high school and Girls and Boys Town of Southern California allowed me to return to my home school district in the 12th grade. I was able to make up all my classes, and ultimately graduate on time with all of my friends that I started with.

And, now, you're half way around the world, serving your Country...

Following high school, I knew I was not mature enough to go off on my own. I looked into independent living resources, but I was tired of being in the 'system'. I needed to get out of the house and do something worthwhile. I wanted the discipline and tools to better prepare me for success later on in life. The Army was my answer. I am a Specialist (E-4) in the U.S. Army, and I have been in the service for 26 months. We deployed to Iraq in late January 2005 and we will be there for a little while longer.

How did we help you to get ready for your military service?

I think it was the structured routine that did it for me. And now, the Army has allowed me to grow up into a more aware person. The friends I have made and the cultural awareness I have gained have been the cornerstone of my growth. I also have had the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself. Just knowing that I have played a minute role in the reconstruction of Iraq gives me such an immense sense of satisfaction.

Devin, we're so proud of you! You are exactly the reason that so many people support Girls and Boys Town... to give deserving kids a second chance. What's next?

I plan to finish my contract with the Army in2007. I am looking into the LAPD when I return to California if they will take me considering the poor choices I have made in the past. My life is nowhere near perfect but I think I will be okay. I just bought my fi rst car, and I am learning how to manage my funds. I have good rapport with my legal guardians and my biological mother, whom I support financially.

The greatest lesson anyone will ever learn is that there is more to learn. Things rarely go as planned and we must learn to maintain a rational state of mind to overcome and adapt. I am not done making mistakes or impulsive decisions, nor will I cease to learn from them. Success does not come from perfection, but it is the pursuit of perfection that allows us to maintain a constantly improving state of excellence. I have a lot more to learn as I travel this bumpy road called life and I will still stumble along the way, but as long as I keep picking myself up again, things will be for the best. It is by faith in God that I will succeed, not by my will.

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