"I came to West Ridge from a program in Michigan. I felt very frightened at that program, had little hope and was very depressed. My mom was in jail somewhere and my dad wanted nothing to do with me since his recent marriage. I was all alone and very down on myself. A family from the area saw my struggles and sent me to West Ridge Academy. Since then, my life has turned around in so many ways. I have graduated from high school, earned my Eagle Scout Award, turned my thoughts from negative to positive, worked and saved over $3000. I am currently learning to drive and have recently joined the Army Reserves and will be training to be a dental assistant with a $20,000 signing bonus. Next year when I turn 19, I will be going on an LDS mission. I appreciate West Ridge for the guidance and support they have given me."
— WRA Graduate
"It was in the tenth grade that I was first introduced to marijuana. Using the drug made me feel good. It made me into someone that I wasn’t. I didn’t have to deal my issues. I pushed my schooling aside and made friends my top priority. I began drinking heavily, every day. I started using harder drugs: meth, cocaine, ecstasy, etc. I seemed to become popular and everyone wanted to be my friend. I overdosed and almost died twice. I ran away and the police ended up tracking me down and arresting me. I was taken to the station where my mom and dad picked me up. I was then placed at West Ridge Academy. Little did I know that the Academy would help me more than I ever thought possible. Overcoming and working on my issues has helped me to understand the importance of why making the right choices is so important and how my choices can impact my future. Living in the light and staying on the right path is so much easier and provides a lot more blessings and opens more doors than accepting the “dark side.”
— WRA Graduate
"Things are better than they were when I was a teenager. I was suicidal and my parents recognized that I needed help. West Ridge Academy's counseling programs inspired me to realize that it wasn't 'me against the world.' My youth was a very dark and troubled time...where I just wanted to get hit by a bus. I took advantage of the schooling and other benefits of their youth counseling. Now I'm hopeful, inspired, and want to have a family of my own."
— WRA Graduate