Ok, I went to New Beginnings in Oct. of '04 and just recently left a while ago, I completely disagree with all the bad things everyone is saying about New Beginnings. In the four years that I lived there, ofcourse I got in some trouble because of mistakes that I made every once in a while, but the McNamaras loved and cared for me even in the bad situations. And I have never regretted the time that I spent there with the people who I loved and considered a part of my family away from home.
The McNamaras are very kind, loving, honest people who just want to see teenagers get the same help that they got as adults in the year of '95 when they went to the Roloff Homes. Bro. Mac went to the "City of Refuge" home for men, Mrs.Mac went to the "Jubilee" home for women, and their three daughters went to the "Cleft of the Rock" home for children who's parents were in the home. Both Bro. and Mrs. Mac have been in the boys and girls shoes, and know what that lifestyle of being a student is all about. The only difference between them and the boys and girls they have in their home now, is that the McNamaras made the choice to get their lives straightened out on their own and the teenagers that are brought by their parents/ legal gardians are brought because their family wants them to get the help that they need but the teenagers themselves dont want the help (but hopefully that changes after a while).
Yes, the rules are strict and you are watched very closely your first couple of months. But if you keep your rotten attitude of "I hate this place, these rules, and my parents for sending me here!" you wont go home a happy, changed (for the good)person. Lots of girls who bad-mouth NBGA (New Beginnings Girls Academy), do it because they never forgave their parents for sending them there to get help(I have seen a countless amount of mothers and fathers absolutely heartbroken that they have to be without their baby for an entire year because they know that this is their last hope to help their little girl get out of the trouble she's in). Maybe they have never accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior or have just despised the fact that Christ was the most important part of New Beginnings. Eventually they might veiw NBGA as a waisted amount of time lost that they spent there and probably miss those months or years that they almost dont have included in their life. But so many dont think to consider that the time spent there was an opertunity to get away from everyone and everything to focus on themselves and their relationship with Jesus Christ.
For a while, I wondered if those four years of being away from my family, not being able to make my own descisions, and not having average teenage responsibilities would be a big hinderence on my life. And yes, I do feel a little less experienced than other 18 year olds, considering I dont have a deploma, job, car, or drivers liscence and it's sometimes kinda hard to relate to other teenagers, but I look back and I have gained so much more than I have missed. Those four years were filled with nothing but growing and learning experiences, after a year I decided that I need to step up to the plate and be a good example. I was a helper for about 2 years, I got the oppertunity to work outside and learn the value of hard work (which I enjoyed more than anything), and help out in many different ways. But I will always appreciate and never forget the time I spent at New Beginnings Girls Academy.