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« on: December 28, 2005, 10:55:00 PM »
I am currently a student at HLA and I felt it would be good to voice my opinion. I am 17 years of age , about to turn 18.( after my 18th birthday when given the oppurtunity to leave at my own free will , I am going to continue to finish the program) while HLA has it's down sides, as most things in life do , HLA is a place that can help if you are willing to let it. I have spent several days rejecting the program , trying to fool myself , friends, councelors and family that I should be pulled b/c I am fine.I also fully admit to several conversations with my friends also enrolled in the program about how much we hate our lives there and how we want to one day shut it down or run away.I have served time on restriction, clean air , and staff escorts.I also have been given a chance to grow and learn from my life and others. I have received great advice from adults and peers there that look out for your best interests. Looking back after being in the program for 11 months , I feel staying has been one of the best decisions my family and I have made in a long time.Should certain things at HLA be changed in my honest opinion... Sure! I also think that Subway should come out with a new kind of sandwich. In other words, HLA may or may not change. Is the way the programs working right now truely honestly causing harm to anyone?... From my first hand experiencen NO. HLA is not the right place for everyone. It can be too strict for some cases , and too leniant for others. If the HLA experience has been negetive for any students and there families ,I truely feel for them and hope they are getting the help they may or may not need else where. All I can say is that is has been infact the one thing that has helped me ( and I have been to wilderness , emotional growth boarding school , traditional boarding school , and both private and public highschool) To anyone looking into HLA , get all the facts you can. But choose your basis for judgement on your own experience, not others. Not on mine , or anyone else's on this website. I will leave it at that