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Name: | skarface
([email protected])
| | Date: | 3/10/2010 5:24:28 PM | | Subject: | Greetings! | | | I really like when people are expressing their opinion and thought. So I like the way you are writing | | | Post Reply | | |
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Name: | lyndz79
([email protected])
| | Date: | 3/10/2010 12:28:13 AM | | Subject: | Growing Together Inc. | | | I will never forget the day that i was admitted into Growing Together Inc. in Lake Worth, Florida. I had lived in the area my whole life, yet was oblivious to the enormous pain that hung behind those barred windows. It was November 30, 1997, my 17th birthday. I was so PISSED!! I don't remember much about my intake. I know that there were a couple oldcomers present. Now, I admit that i was a troubled teen. I hold no resentment towards my father for settling for this last resort. I get the feeling that, even though i "7-stepped", he regrets putting me through the program. In my eyes, it's neither here nor there, a moot point...what's done is done. I remember becoming hypersensitive to my surroundings at that point. I noticed that there were time-delayed locks on every emergency exit, not to mention that one must be buzzed in through a security door upon entry. After being escorted to the bathroom by a newcomer, and put through the whole "strip and squat" routine, i was led up a dingy stairwell to the second floor. i was brought into a large room where a "girls' rap" was taking place. None of the other girls talked to me, which only heightened my anxiety. After a while, a group of boys filed into the room and i was forced to stand as a staff member announced my arrival to the group. I was stunned to then be welcomed by 30 or so robots..."Love Ya, Lyndsey!".
The girls were then led to the kitchen/dining hall. (Later in my "program", we would find a cockroach in the large batch of soup that was brought in for us to eat. Fun times.) As if i weren't miserable enough, there was a birthday cake waiting for me. I didn't even know these girls, and they were singing me Happy Birthday and clapping. So I was pretty broken down my 1st day. I played the game for a lil while. Those who didn't play the game were called "misbehavors", and sat in the back of the room, and were sometimes sent to the "white room", depending on how rowdy they got. By the time I entered the program, the rules regarding restraining kids were a bit more strict than some of the accounts that I have read, but that doesn't mean that abuse and brainwashing didn't occur. We witnessed many group members self-mutilating, and suicide watches, during which the oldcomer was responsible for staying awake all night to watch a suicidal newcomer, were demanded quite frequently. We were trained to stare straight ahead, "motivate" by flailing our hands and arms in the air, sing "program songs", and endure rap sessions consisting of staff and peers "getting honest" with us and "calling us on our shit." I ran from an oldcomer's home once, only to be caught by authorities and picked up from the police station by an oldcomer and her father. We had no privacy, and were required use the bathroom and shower in the presence of 5 other girls. I was given a myriad of different medications, paxil, welbutrin, risperdol(an antipsychotic!), during which time i didn't have my period for 9months. (Once my parents ordered me off the meds my cycle returned to normal.) If you are on this site, this is all par for the course. What is more interesting to me is how I spiraled out of control after "7-stepping", or graduating the program. I lost my sense of identity. I am now 30yrs old, and spend a lot of time in my therapist's office. I've never blamed GT for any of the mistakes I've made, as I am great at holding myself responsible. However, these programs use mental/emotional/physical abuse as motivation for one to "move on" and should be stopped. | | | Post Reply | Display replies to this message
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| 45 | |
Name: | anon
([email protected])
| | Date: | 12/13/2009 7:56:42 PM | | Subject: | Fenster School of AZ | | | Hi-
I am a former fenster student. I attended fenster when I was in my teenage years for about a year and it was the most traumatic experience I ever encountered.I was abused in more than one case for 6 months straight and ended up having to go through 2 1/2 years of therapy because of it. I luckily got the help that I needed from another boarding school which ended up saving my life and healing the wounds that fenster created. Not only was i getting physically bullied among other things that i choose not to discuss, the staff was involved in things of a wrongful nature as well. Please do not send your child there. | | | Post Reply | | |
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Name: | Mother Bear
([email protected])
| | Date: | 9/16/2009 5:26:37 PM | | Subject: | Teen's right to have legal counsel. | | | I don't know if this will help any legal case out there, but my son, right now, is incarcerated (any other word suitable ?)in NEW SUMMIT ACADEMY, in COSTA RICA.
I have been involved in a legal dispute with my son's father, he put him in SECOND NATURE WILDERNESS PROGRAM for 8 weeks, and then transported him to NEW SUMMIT ACADEMY.
We went to court last week,and my son was appointed a lawyer by the Judge.(CALIFORNIA COURT)
Although this is a sealed case, because of the minor involved, I can give you some information,but you cannot access it online. Please contact me and use this case as an example of TEEN RIGHTS being respected and enforced by the law.
I feel that this is a victory, although my son still remains at NEW SUMMIT. At least, he has a voice.
I was told by my attorney, that never before has a TEEN been appointed a lawyer, WHILE incarcerated at a WILDERNESS facility, or a THERAPUTIC BOARDING SCHOOL.
He is thrilled at this victory. Much more work ahead.
Never give up.
Most sincerely,
An enraged Mother Bear. | | | Post Reply | Display replies to this message
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| 43 | |
Name: | AlexAxe
([email protected])
| | Date: | 9/14/2009 7:40:27 AM | | Subject: | Post number 824 on www.heal-online.org | | | Thanks for article. Everytime like to read you.
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