Trey’s Story: A Graduation Celebration
There are a lot of things we enjoy celebrating at Goshen Valley… but graduation is by far one of our favorites! For our young men, it’s one of the most significant milestones of their lives, one that seemed out of reach without the help and support of the people who believe in them.
At Goshen, a young man who thinks that he can’t (or doesn’t need to) graduate is kept accountable and given support to earn his high school diploma. The result is stories like Trey, who received his diploma from Cherokee High School last month.
Trey’s Story: A Graduation Celebration
Trey arrived at Goshen Valley a little under four years ago. When he arrived, Trey thought that earning his GED would be the only option because he was behind grade level. However, through our support system, Trey was given opportunities to make up work and get ahead. His house parents and case management staff helped Trey to believe in himself. He worked hard with our education staff and tutors to get his grades on track throughout the school year and our summer academy credit recovery program.
After turning 18, Trey returned to live with family in the area making him an official Goshen Valley Alumnus. Still, he made the commitment that wouldn’t be the only alumni status he would hold. Trey left the Ranch before graduation, but finished out his school year and received his diploma from Cherokee High School on May 29th, 2014. Today, Trey is making plans to join the workforce and fully-embrace this next season of life.
Thank you for helping make more graduations possible!
Celebrating graduations like Trey’s is only possible because of your support. Whether you help by volunteering, donating, or advocating for Goshen Valley, everything you do helps change the lives of young men forever!
A Place to Call Home: Josue's Story
Imagine coming to the United States from Mexico seeking the opportunity for a better life. Imagine not knowing anyone when you arrive. No friends. No parents. No siblings… Now imagine that you’re experiencing all of the feelings that would come from those circumstances… and you 11 years old.
That is Josue’s story.
Josue was born in Mexico, but grew up throughout most of his childhood without parents. Six years ago, Josue moved to the United States... on his own.
Here is a look into Josue's story of burden to blessing in his own words:
“Growing up, I worked hard and try my best to do well in school. I started working when I was 7 years old and worked until I was 14. That’s when the government found out I didn’t have anyone to take care of me. I’m really thankful for DFCS (Division of Family and Child Services) because now, I don’t have to work to provide for myself and can focus on becoming a citizen...
The relationship with the people I live with at Goshen Valley is really nice because they treat you nice and care for you. That is why I feel lucky to have a place like Goshen Valley to call home. When I think of how my life has changed since coming to Goshen Valley, I am so grateful for it. If I wasn’t here, I wouldn’t be thinking about having a successful future….
Where I come from, everyone is poor. I appreciate what I have now because I never had a place to live like Goshen Valley.”
While Josue's story may sound extreme, for us it’s another example of the kind of hope the young men at Goshen Valley experience. Like many of the other young men, Josue plans on attending college after graduation. An aspiration like this that would have never been dreamt before Goshen.
The ability to dream about the future is one of the many blessings the young men experience after being removed from their life of burden.
Want more “burden to blessing” stories like Josue’s? Here are a few testimonials from other young men that call Goshen Valley home.
Chase's Story
Picture a 7-year-old boy. He has a younger sister. This child grew up watching his parents physically assault each other over anything from bills, to the despair of poverty, to lack of food. The father is addicted to drugs and very abusive to his mom and two children. His mom is angry and is also addicted to drugs. She has no ability to provide for her children. This young boy’s dad goes to jail, and the young boy and his sister go to live with his mom’s parents.
Still amidst turmoil, the family moved around. The young boy’s mother eventually left her two children to live with a friend. He secretly worried about who would take care of him.
A step-grandmother took in the boy and his sister. For 2 years, things seemed stable, until the step-grandmother’s 18-year-old stepson moved into the home with then. Terrible things happened because of this, and the children’s lives were altered forever. The step-grandmother did what she could and moved out with the two young children. They were homeless and spent time in a women’s shelter before the grandmother realized that she could not care for the children any longer.
That morning, they were dropped off at a Department of Family and Children Services office. They cried, not wanting to leave her, but she had no choice. This young boy and his sister were separated and, over the next several years, were moved around to 16 different foster families.
Due to the struggle and significant trauma that he faced this young boy, now a young man, grew deeply hurt. He disrupted his foster home placements until he was 14. His case worker, wanting to see some significant change, took him to a group home: Goshen Valley. This was when his healing began.
This young boy, Chase, is now 21-years-old. He has lived at Goshen Valley since he was 14. Through the safety and stability, love and purpose he received, Chase graduated high school in 2011 and is a sophomore at Reinhardt University. He is in foster care leadership positions and helps other young men to remain strong and find their purpose while in foster care. Chase is still connected to his family, especially his sister, but has found his identity is truly found in his faith and triumphs.
Watch Below Her Mouth (2017) Full Movie Online Streaming Online and Download
Greg's Story
Greg came to live at Goshen Valley when he was 16. Greg was from Atlanta and had no desire to live in the country on a ranch with horses and cows. Still, when Greg turned 16, he had run out of options. After multiple placements and high schools, it was clear that Greg needed a new start.
After coming to Goshen Valley, Greg slowly turned a corner. After a year of continuing to struggle in school and in life, he finally made a commitment to graduate high school. Greg was extremely bright but, in his 3rd year of high school, only had enough credits to be considered a freshman. Greg promised himself that if he was given the opportunity to work ahead, he could finish 2 ½ years of high school in 9 months.
Greg graduated high school in December 2012. He never worked so hard in his life, but he truly believed that he could do it.
Below is Greg’s personal testimony of his life and decisions that led him to where he is today.
Justin's Story
When Justin was just 11 years old, he and his brother Joe came to live at Goshen Valley. During the interview, Joe (age 13) straightened Justin’s shirt and told him to “make a good impression.” After living in poverty caused by neglect, Justin and his brother were looking for a home.
Eight years later, on May 25, 2013, Justin graduated high school. Justin has had a long road. He has wanted to quit school countless times. He has threatened to leave Goshen Valley in pursuit of unknown “freedoms” that life has to offer. Still, through the love and fervent relationship that Justin has had with his Goshen Valley family, he has remained to receive the unique love and support that he would not receive if he left.
Below is Justin's personal story.