I graduated from CSA in May of 2003 and am now finishing my sophomore
year of college at Columbia College Chicago (in Chicago, obviously!)
I'm majoring in TV Production with a concentration in
Producing/Directing. I've just been elected as the Vice-President of
Columbia's Student Government Association. These things might not seem
like that big of a deal now, but when I went in to CSA I was failing
all of my tenth grade classes and had been kicked out for skipping too
much. I was stealing, driving without a license, and hadn't spoken to
my mom in 6 months. Through some of my experiences at CSA but mostly
the people who worked there, as well as the girls, I became a happier,
more mature individual. I have a great relationship with my family and
with my mom and couldn't be more excited about the choices that I'm
making for my life now. I did a lot of growing up at CSA and while I
hated it at the time, I can look back now and be thankful for what it
did give me. My life back.
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- Courtney W., CSA Graduate
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A year ago my son was not able to fit into what we know as “our
society”. He was angry, dropped out of school, defiant, couldn’t hold a
part-time job and just miserably depressed. He scared us and we were
worried for his life. He was headed down a path we did not know how to
handle. Carolina Springs has saved my son and our family.
[Carolina Springs] works only if the parents, step parents,
guardians, siblings and the child in the school work together. In other
words, this [school] helps develop whole and happy families. It’s been
very difficult but also the most rewarding accomplishment for my son
and our family… We have become a family during this whole process. It
took our child to rebel to make us look at our lives. It has changed us
in a way we would have never dreamt possible. He is happy, healthy and
his self esteem is soaring. The campus is beautiful and the children
are well attended to. The staff is remarkable. Each one of them has a
heart as big as gold. They have always been open about our child and
the progress he makes.
Sincerely,
Beth T.
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- Beth T. , Parent of a CSA Student
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Our son was a student at CSA…He is alive and well because of CSA. The
time spent at the school was good for him. It provided him a structured
safe environment surrounded by individuals that were focused on his
growth and development.
What can I say! We began to see changes in our son toward the end of
his tenth grade year. He was not the same boy. We assumed his changes
were related to puberty or just growing pains. We trusted him to make
the right choices, because we had raised him to make the right choices.
Well, he had not. The choices he was making were under the influence of
drugs and alcohol. His grades were falling. He no longer took interest
in his appearance. He lost interest in sports. He found himself in
fights. He was driving while drinking. He was very angry with his
family. This sir was not our son. We sought the guidance of a family
therapist for approximately three months. But still, he continued to
spin out of control.
We realized that the only way he was going to have a chance at the life
of his dreams was to remove him from the environment he had created for
himself. To get him away from his support - The support that encouraged
his lifestyle… It worked. And you better believe we missed our son, but
we did not miss the hell in which we were living as we watched him fall
apart.
CSA was there. The school allowed him to continue his education as
well as evaluate his life and the choices he was making. He received
guidance that will remain with him for the rest of his life. Positive
guidance and positive experiences. Granted he did not appreciate being
pulled away from his home and friends. But so what, at the time he was
not thinking properly. His mind was under the control of the drugs and
alcohol.
In the six months since graduating CSA, our son has graduated high
school and holds a full time job. He plans to attend the community
college this fall.
Sincerely,
Lynda D.
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- Lynda D., Parent of a CSA Graduate
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I am writing to let you know that CSA is doing some very needed work.
They have been successful in redirecting my son’s life from one of poor
choices to one where he stops and thinks and measures his actions
against his self developed values. They do not set the values for the
kids, but instead make them aware of what it means to have your own
values and how to stand in your value and interpret different
challenges that cause you to break your values. They balance this being
true to yourself with a position of tolerance and respect for people
with different values and learn to protect themselves form those who
have no values. Many kids learn these things from families, friends,
etc. The kids at CSA are a group that did not learn these things first
time around.
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- Parent of a CSA Student
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My stepson is not dead
He does not use drugs
He is not addicted to computer games
He has not flunked out of school
He is not depressed
He is not a danger to himself or others
Without Carolina Springs Academy, many of the above statements would
not be true….Our boy is currently at Carolina Springs Academy and doing
great. He is happy, healthy, and doing well at school. He is no longer
filled with anger. Last time we saw him he hugged us and said he loved
us.
CSA Parent
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- Parent of a CSA Student
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My name is Tina, and I have a son at Carolina Springs Academy. I’m
sending this email to share our experience since becoming a part of the
CSA family. At CSA they not only address the childs’ issues, they also
give continuing seminars for the parents as well. This equips the
family with life changing methods that ensure a stable and healthy
household. Instead of a bandage fix, CSA actually stitches the wound,
which enables parents and child to heal and grow in a healthy manner.
If I had to do the initial enrollment for my son at CSA all over again;
the only change I would make would have been to do it sooner. This is
by far one of the “best” choices that could have been made for my son.
It is my opinion that he will beyond a shadow of a doubt be more
equipped for the real world having attended and graduated the CSA
program.
Sincerely,
Tina J.
(Proud mother of the CSA family)
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- Tina J., Parent of a CSA Student
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Bob P.
Former Lieutenant Governor
"As South Carolinians, we are fortunate to have a program
available here that teaches teens the importance of personal
responsibility, accountability and discipline. Through a vigorous
program of performance-based academics, coupled with discipline,
physical fitness and parental involvement, teens are able to emerge
from Carolina Springs Academy to lead productive lives.
As Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, I deeply appreciate [Carolina
Springs Academy's] emphasis on promoting the time-honored values of
respect, honor and integrity."
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- Bob P.
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Our 14 year-old son is attending CSA. This past year has been a
nightmare involving marijuana, the law, suspension from school,
property damage, hospitalization (major bills) with our son. The
nightmare didn’t seem to have an end and we were headed for disaster,
the first being the breakup of the family and sure to follow would be
more trouble with the law. Our son was stealing from us and lying to
us. He was in charge and there did not seem to be any choice but to
send him to a school for troubled youth. I spoke to former students and
parents and received very positive feedback. We love our son and truly
feel he is getting the help he needs at this school.
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- Parent of a CSA Student
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This was the only option for our son. He was rejected from several
other programs. I feel our son would not be alive today if not for
Carolina Springs Academy. A program that is results based, with
superior 24/7 care and long term solutions for change… Not only is this
program one of recovery and rehabilitation for the child, but for the
whole family. There are workshops and seminars that enhance and teach
the family to become united and functional. I understand this program
may not be for everyone, but it’s the one that saved my son’s life and
brought our family together. My son is a completely whole person
because of this program. He is confident, loving, joyful and respectful
young man.
Sincerely,
Sheila H.
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- Sheila H., Parent of a CSA Student
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William H. “Billy” O’Dell
South Carolina State Senate
District 4, Abbeville and Anderson Counties
“I was invited to Carolina Springs Academy to join a team of
community and civic leaders in judging a student debate on campus. I
was most impressed at that time with the professionalism of the
administration and staff and was particularly impressed with the
conduct and demeanor of the students. They were well behaved, happy and
intelligent young people. I learned at that time that Carolina Springs
is a Specialty Boarding School for students who may be struggling at
home and whose parents have sent them to the school. Since that time, I
have been very involved with the school in working with the
administration to enhance school programs and offer independent
assistance with their operations.
I have spent literally hundreds of hours with the students and
staff on choir trips, parades, dinner groups, campus activities, field
trips, business meetings or just eating lunch with them in the school
cafeteria. Over these past two years, my wife and I have personally
enjoyed various off campus dinners and activities with dozens and
dozens of students, many of which I have now come to know quite well.
In addition, I try to personally meet with each graduate as a part of a
presentation of a Senate Certificate.
I often ask the students I meet with to describe their experience
at the school. The most common response I get is that it has not been
easy, but it has helped turn their life around. I have had students
tell me that they believe it has actually saved their life. I have
watched as graduates tearfully hug staff, teachers, and administrators
in an expression of gratitude before they depart for home with their
families. My own observations have assured me that the administration
and staff are professional, caring people, who are genuine in their
desires to help young people improve their lives.
In addition to my personal involvement with the students, I have
also been involved with the state licensure process via the South
Carolina Division of Social Services. This is a very detailed and
exacting process as qualified state personnel interview students, view
charts, and records, and conduct a thorough walk through and
examination of all aspects of the campus and the school’s processes.
Carolina Springs Academy has been licensed by the State of South
Carolina and has been academically accredited for seven years. This is
a tribute to the operations of the school and is an additional
safeguard to the students and their well-being.
I am grateful for the service being provided to families in need, and render my support on behalf of Carolina Springs Academy.
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- Senator William H. "Billy" O'Dell
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My child spent 23 months under the loving care of Carolina Springs
Academy. Prior to the program she was heading for the local morgue. But
instead I did what I could, used every resource available including
therapist, clergy, threats, punishment and counselors of all different
types. When this was exhausted so was I. Making the decision to place
my child into the care of strangers to try to straighten out and save
what I couldn’t wasn’t easy. What I found out was I was a part of the
problem.
This organization engages the entire family in the healing process. Not
many programs do that. Through that process I learned more about
myself, how to approach the problems and how to get rid of my excess
baggage and open up to my child and work with her, not against her….
My daughter has been home 10 months now, and we can talk, interact
and work on issues together with a whole new set of goals that include
honesty, respect and integrity.
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- Debby C. , Parent of a CSA Graduate
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I am writing this letter to you to explain the special gift that my
child and our family have been given. Our Son is enrolled at Carolina
Springs Academy. It has been a life changing experience for all of us….
Our son has grown in self esteem, maturity, and scholastically is doing better than he ever did in the public school system.
James and Christina
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- James & Christina, Parents of a CSA Student
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Wow! What a day it has been. My son has graduated from CSA today. There
are not enough words to express my thanks and gratitude to all of the
faculty at CSA. It's a great program with great people. Keep up the
good work!
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- Carla Hibbs, parent of CSA graduate
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The program at CSA works because it changes not just the "troubled
teen" but also the family dynamics that allowed for the teens' loss of
control. This makes it unique and invaluable.
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- Andrea H., Parent of CSA graduate
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We sent a very troubled young boy to CSA 1 year ago. We knew he was
lost and drugs were the direction he had turned. At first we were just
happy that he was in a safe place. But as time went by the program
helped our son grow into a fine young man and we are full of hope once
again for our son.
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- Tony H., parent of CSA graduate
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CSA has changed our entire family and its dynamics for the better. It
scares me to think where we might be today without our CSA experience.
God bless the staff and family reps who have improved our lives.
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- Charles & Vicki, parents of CSA graduate
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The long journey was well worth the end results we have as a family. We
are looking forward to the next phase at home. Thank you for helping to
save our daughters life.
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- Kathie C., Parent of CSA graduate
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CSA has been a wonderful experience for our whole family. I have never
once regretted the decision to send our son to the program. We are very
grateful to all of the wonderful staff there. Thanks for helping our
family become a unit again.
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- Lynne V, Parent of CSA graduate
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