“Looking back on my life and how things could have turned out very differently, it’s hard to believe how far I’ve come. Today, I am a 29-year-old combat engineer and drill sergeant in the U.S. Army. My journey hasn’t been easy, but I owe much of my success to a place that gave me a second chance when I needed it most: Hanna Center.” – Tyler J., Hanna Center Alumni Veteran
The Turning Point: Hanna Center
At 16, I was spiraling out of control. Drugs, arrests, and a complete disregard for authority had become the norm in my life. I was failing school with a 0.6 grade point average and couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble. My parents, struggling with a split home and full-time jobs, couldn’t provide the structure I needed. I was rebellious and defiant. Hanna Center was introduced as an option to stop the cycle.
Walking onto the Hanna campus for the first time, I saw an opportunity for a better life. The discipline, oversight, and structure they offered were exactly what I had been missing. It wasn’t an easy transition, but it was necessary. Looking back, I can confidently say that Hanna helped turn my life around. Without their intervention, I might not be alive today, let alone clean and sober.
Transformation and Growth
One of the most significant changes I experienced at Hanna was in the classroom. The small class sizes – sometimes as few as six students – allowed for personalized attention from teachers who genuinely cared about our success. For the first time, I felt comfortable asking for help without the fear of being singled out. My grades went from a 0.6 average to making the Honor Roll. It was at Hanna that I realized I wasn’t unintelligent; I just needed the right environment to thrive.
Hanna didn’t just improve my academics and confidence, it taught me valuable life lessons. I learned the importance of structure, earning privileges, and taking responsibility for my actions. These principles have carried me through my career in the Army and continue to guide me as I raise my own family.
One of the most meaningful outcomes of my time at Hanna was restoring my relationship with my parents, especially my father. The tension that had built up over years of rebellion and disappointment has given way to a close bond that feels like how a father-son relationship should be. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to rebuild those burned bridges, which also impacted my children’s lives.
Coming Full Circle
The parallels are kind of interesting. I’m about to start this new role as a drill sergeant, and I’ll be transforming recruits into soldiers. It’s almost like my story is coming full circle. Hanna took me when I was a messed-up kid and turned me around. Now, I get to do the same thing for other people. I guess I’m paying it forward; I didn’t even realize it.
My story is a testament to the power of second chances and the profound impact that the right support and environment can have on a young person’s life. Thank you to the staff at Hanna Center, my family, and everyone who believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Your faith and unwavering support set me on the path to becoming the man I am today. Hanna didn’t just change my life; it saved it.
Join us in honoring veterans like Tyler at our 25th Hanna Center Golf Classic this Veterans Day.
