Success Stories: Meet Octavio (Completing GED)

​Before I got locked up, I just didn't do anything. I cut school a lot and smoked weed. After I got locked up everything changed. I went to the ranch and went through their drug court and anger management programs. At the ranch I really learned to work through my anger and work together with other people. Now I actually do things. 

I really like working at the Hall Closet. I feel close to the adults like Don and Heidi, they've really helped me out and showed me that it  doesn't matter what society thinks or what your parents think, you can do better than everyone's expectations of you. I always want to be doing things now.

I like fixing things at the Hall Closet, and helping sort the clothes. Now when new people come in I can train them and show them how it all works and I like that. I also like it because it's good retail experience that could help me get a job. I'm a totally different person than I was before I was locked up.

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