Emmanuel

“…I needed to find something in my life that could help me control myself. I found that at Lad Lake.”

Emmanuel lived in five different foster homes before even turning six. Now 17, he has been living in a group home for the past three years. When he enrolled in Lad Lake’s ULTRA Day Treatment program, he had a history of skipping classes and getting into trouble. Emmanuel turned to Lad Lake because he needed somebody to show him the way to the right path.

“The people at Lad Lake told me, ‘This is how it is: You need to straighten up and fly right.’ And after that, something just clicked in my mind,” says Emmanuel. “I realized I needed to find something in my life that could help me control myself. I found that at Lad Lake.”

It didn’t take long before Emmanuel dedicated himself to the ULTRA Day Treatment program. He logged perfect attendance throughout the year and even completed the Lad Lake Summer School program, which gave him additional credit toward completing high school. Emmanuel also participated in the ULTRA Job Readiness program, never missing a single day of work and always showing up on time.

“School is my focus,” Emmanuel says. “I’m trying to graduate high school so I can go on to college and learn how to be a businessman.” With so much dedication, he’s already well on his way to achieving his dreams.

“Lad Lake gave me a gift. The staff gave me hope. They gave me hope because they pushed me like I’ve never been pushed before… They made me believe if you try hard, you really will go somewhere in life.”

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