Dear YOUNGER ME, Dear YOUNGER ME, Witnessing our students pour their hearts and souls into their “Dear Younger Me” Don’t be so hard on yourself. Don’t take out the letters touched us deeply and gave us insight into the hearts of those we serve. anger on other people, including your mother. I know you have difficulty with trusting people, and A Georgia Standard of Excellence that we often We instructed students to advise and encour- I understand that; you choose to not go out and focus on involves analyzing characters in stories. age the younger versions of themselves. Because close yourself in. I know because you trusted your But, it is difficult to fully examine the thoughts, some of them are not comfortable talking about hopes, and feelings of fictional characters if we painful parts of their pasts yet, they were given dad, and he let you down. But it’s ok. Sometimes you cannot first look inside ourselves and under- the option of giving basic, and even silly, advice have to let people in and be vulnerable to be human. stand what motivates and hurts us. or writing to the version of themselves that was living the most difficult part of their pasts. I know you have a big problem with anger. That’s For two weeks, students took Some of our students’ letters instructed them- something that unfortunately we still need help in, quizzes that helped selves not to cut their bangs, while others wrote but we get better with it. Please don’t be short- identify their per- directly to the small child who was suffering in tempered with people. Don’t blame your mom for your sonality type, love unimaginable ways. I believe that this assign- languages, and ment helped them see how far they have come responsibilities. And another thing: you define your- learning style, as and that the trajectory of their lives is unlimited self - not other people! well as some other with possibility. activities that Although it is difficult to leave their families Give yourself a chance to be a child when you can. helped them under- to be part of our program, many realized that I know you had to mature faster than other kids stand who they are Eagle Ranch is an integral part of helping them because of situations you can’t control. Enjoy those and how they can heal and have the life that God wants for them. use that knowledge We all have moments in our lives that we wish times that you can; be a child. Go to the park, go to to walk the path that we would have known, with certainty, that we the football games, and go to the school play. Just God has planned for would survive and even use that hardship to have fun and live your life. them. thrive one day. These letters were a perfect ex- ample of how God brings beauty from ashes. This assignment was created to help stu- The resiliency of our students amazes me daily. Love, dents find hope in looking back to where they This assignment gave them an opportunity to KENDALL, 14 come from and realizing where they are now, recognize how far they have come and the way not only physically, but spiritually and emotion- that God has and will continue to guide them. a lly. Ginger Duren Language Arts Teacher Pictured sharing letter with parapro, Ada King

Read more of our students' "Dear Younger Me" stories at EagleRanch.org/youngerme Dear YOUNGER ME, I know back then things were hard, but you have to believe in yourself.

The main thing that will change your life is that you will go to a program called Eagle Ranch. You will struggle with things like your body image, loving yourself, finding your identity and so much more. Your House- parents at Eagle Ranch and your parents will help you realize who you are. Your journey there will be very difficult, but being at Eagle Ranch will grant you so many things. You will become a leader for other teenage girls, you will become best friends with your mom, and you will find that your past doesn’t define you. You will realize that even though your birth mom passed away, that does not have to affect your life. You will still be sad about it, but you will realize that things happen for a reason.

Your school will be amazing on the Eagle Ranch campus. You will be on the A honor roll and, in eighth grade, you will bring your grades up like crazy. You will be determined, and that will change your whole view of school. Your teachers will help you realize that you have so much potential, and they will bring that alive in you. You and your grades would be impossible without your teachers pushing you and God guiding you. You will study hard; you will be able to focus more in class.

You will experience tough things, but that will just make you even stronger. You will make amazing friendships, and they will be so supportive of you. You may feel lost sometimes, but you have to always keep going and never give up. Know that God has amazing things in store for you.

Love, LILLY, 13 Dear Dear YOUNGER ME, YOUNGER ME, To my 3-year-old self: in two years you are going You were born in Russia and were adopted in 2006. to go through several foster homes, but at the end Life now is a little rough, but it is a lot better than of two years you are going to get adopted. You are it was. You are at a place called Eagle Ranch to going to be mad that you got adopted but the people help you learn life-long development tools. The people that adopted you are nice, loving and caring parents. here at Eagle Ranch that you surround yourself with are people who you can relate with. What’s unique To my 11-year-old self: right before your 12th birth- about you is that you are friendly, kind, talkative, day, you will be going to Eagle Ranch. It is going to full of laughter, loving and funny. You are also good help you get back on track and move from the road at art, so I guess that is unique as well. you were heading down. You are going to be mad at your parents for taking you to this place. But this I am writing this letter specifically to you because I place is actually going to help you. You are going to want you to know that everything is going to be OK. get better at expressing your feelings and how to I want you to know that you will make it. You will avoid blowing up at someone. suffer a lot and feel like it is the end of the world, but I promise you will make it. Through little frus- Don’t let the past define you. Also, every day is a trations, to big arguments, to being told really hard new chance to do better than yesterday. The main things and losing people you loved the most. It really thing I would like to say to you is keep persisting; hurts. But over time, learning to cope with hurt is life is going to get better. normal. It will have an end. Trust and believe in yourself. And trust in God, and he will do the rest. Sincerely, MATTHEW, 13 ,Sincerely, JULIA, 14 Dear YOUNGER ME, I’m so proud to tell you my journey in life, so here I go!

Remember when you were smoking, fighting and going back and forth to the courthouse and how you saw your mom hurting? She could not eat or even go to work because of the choices you were making in your middle school life.

It’s going to be ok if you don’t know how to read like everyone else, or how you were failing all of your classes. Because you go to Eagle Ranch and their private school, you can do anything that comes your way. When you go to that private school, you will have all As and Bs. Your mom will be so proud of you. So, don’t give up - you have to keep working hard on things.

I want you to know that you can do anything in your life with God, and I can’t wait to see what God’s plan is for your life.

Sincerely, DEE, 13 Dear Dear YOUNGER ME, YOUNGER ME, I know that you may be going through a lot right now, but You’re entering a world of sadness, anger and anxiety. I can tell you that you push through it. I just want to say You’re gonna be in this world for about three years but there are some better days than others, trust me. You are keep your head up and God will get you through it. pretty good at hiding your emotions, and I just want to say You are not doing good at your new school. You’re going it’s OK to tell people how you feel. You may not want to, to be sad; your emotions that are balled up are about to but talk to your mom about it; she’ really good at listening. spill. You’re going to hang out with the wrong crowd and Dad doesn’t live in Georgia forever, because he moves to take out your anger in a bad way. California. It’s really far, and it’s tough because you never On your 12th birthday, mom and dad think you need a know why he left, and we still don’t. You learn to cope with break, and tell you you’re going to up to West Virginia to it and forgive him. So, that gets better and you’re not as stay with Maw Maw until the end of summer. Until then, angry about it now. you and dad are moving out and getting an apartment. You may have forgotten, but you’re in 7th grade! I know You don’t realize it yet, but you’re badly hurting inside. you didn’t think you’d make it this far. It can be tough You aren’t going to believe this, but I’m getting As and sometimes and challenging. I’ll let you know if I pass or not! Bs. You’re going to be mentally healthy and finally I think I will; you know how smart we are. realize you were badly hurting. Now I’m working through There’s some of the stuff that you should prepare for and the stuff we went through at a place called Eagle Ranch, think about. Don’t be sad forever; it’s not worth it. I love where it helps me express my feelings and do better in you little Chamilla. It gets better; I promise. life. And best believe we’re gonna have much more to add to our story, so be ready. Love, CHAMILLA, 12 ALEX,Love, 14 Dear Dear YOUNGER ME, YOUNGER ME, You’re going to go to this place called Eagle Ranch. Don’t think your dad can bring you down while he’s You will learn to how to better manage your anger in jail. Just keep going. He did bad. You can be by stopping and thinking about the consequences. better than him. You can grow up and be who you You and your family’s relationship will get better want to be. because we got the counseling we needed. You and You don’t have to hurt yourself because you can’t your friends from Eagle Ranch will be friends read fast. You can be a good reader, maybe the best for life. You will want to major in architecture for reader in your family. Don’t judge yourself because college. And you will love to play sports. You will of one word. You can do this younger me! You can learn to trust people more, by just letting down also write better if you practice writing more. your guard a little and by just having fun with your Maybe you can get cursive or even a different friends. It will get better; trust me. You will be language! You got this Gavin! scared at first, but you will be fine. Love, Sincerely, GAVIN, 11 BRE, 12 Dear Dear YOUNGER ME, YOUNGER ME, You have a lot of sudden emotions that you haven’t Keep doing your best in life. Push through your hardships, felt yet. You don’t know what to do with them, so you will get through ok. Be open to meeting new people you bury them under blanket of whatever emotion and don’t be nervous of different people. Learn to listen you think people want to see. Over time, that more than talk to have better conversations. You will blanket gets worn. It gets thinner and thinner until make more relationships if you listen more. Be more re- everyone can see through it like it’s made of glass. spectful of your parents so you have a better relationship Eventually it tears open. with them.

You go to Eagle Ranch, where people go to heal from Try your best in school on your academic work because problems they have, mentally and emotionally. You you are really smart at school. School will always come meet a lot of people that want to help you. These easy and you will have good grades, but don’t slack be- people know how to help you as well. You just have to cause of that. Focus on making relationships with the let them. You learn to get rid of that blanket you right people. Don’t be scared of COVID-19. You will get used to use. You learn to say what you feel, instead through it. Spend all the time you have with your grand- of hiding it because you think it makes you strong. pa because you don’t have much time with him. It may not You can handle yourself now, but you have to keep be fun to go to the retirement home, but he loves you. He working for it. So be ready. misses you when you’re not there. Don’t worry about what people think of you. Always Sincerely, MILES, 14 be kind to everyone. Work on your problems instead of creating new ones. You will have an easier time at Eagle Ranch if you work on your problems and no one else’s.

From, JOSH, 15