I ended up as a "bad boy" because I was around the wrong crowd. I was in school and making wrong decisions while going through problems with my family. My mom and I looked through some alternative schools and landed on Boys Town. I was in Jeff and Misty Sweezy's house; they are two people who have actually been through the Boys Town program themselves. Having someone who has been through that program really helps when they are the people you are looking up to.

We knew before he came to Boys Town that school was not a motivator for him. The whole idea of him going to college was scary for us and for his parents, and he made that decision about a month or two months before graduation. He is a psychology and sociology double major. His end goal is to come back and work for Boys Town. I am really proud of him; he got a 3.85 GPA, which is almost a 4.0. He is doing so well, and there is so much to be proud of because we know the skills we taught him, the love and care we provided, and his parents' support really helped him be successful in college.

Successful Futures are people who really want to see you succeed outside of Boys Town, and they are truly on your side. I work with Andrew over Successful Futures, and I've called him up so many times when I need something. This year, for example, I needed a computer because classes are all online now, and within two to three days, there was a computer for me to pick up. Sometimes I just need to talk to somebody, and there are people there willing to listen.

Before Boys Town, I never really felt like I had somebody who had my back. When somebody cares, there is almost a fear of disappointing that person or not being what you could be for them. When it comes to Boys Town, those people want to see you succeed so much that subconsciously you almost just change. I hope he gets his double major. I know he wants to come back to Boys Town to work for Boys Town. If he does, that's awesome, but wherever Tyler goes, he is going to excel.

Where would I be without Boys Town? I don't know, and I don't really want to know. I would have never thought I'd be in college; no one ever told me I was going to college. I was hoping to just get through high school. I was going down a path that was probably going to get me put in jail or get me killed, so Boys Town has really been a blessing.