Frustrated and filled with self-doubt, our son, Matt, asked us to find a school where he could go away to get a new start. We didn't understand why he would want to leave his family and his home. What did he need that we couldn't give him? Time and time again over a period of weeks he asked again. My sister in law, a seasoned school guidance counselor, looked me in the eye and said "let him go".

And so it began-the quest for Matt to find a new beginning. We talked to trusted educators, we researched our options. Searching through the internet something about Oak Hill Academy caught my eye. I called the school to ask for further information and talked with Dr. Michael Groves. I poured my heart out about our bright, articulate, and warm-hearted son who was struggling in school, struggling in life. He listened patiently and then began to unfold the story of Oak Hill and what its purpose was.

Dr. Groves told me about the calm and serene campus environment, intentionally placed far away from distractions. He said most of the staff actually live on campus with the students so that they could be involved in their lives. Caring, nurturing, encouraging Christian teachers who believed in the underlying goodness of youth were dedicated to the ideals of the school. Commitment to core values and character development were at the heart of the purpose of Oak Hill. Belief in potential rather than current behavior inspired the leaders of the school. Matt had found a place to start over.

What did he find at Oak Hill? The majestic mountainous setting provided surroundings that encouraged him to think and ponder, examine his life. The smaller group setting away from family and friends encouraged Matt to develop new friendships, those he could share his life experiences with. He was given an opportunity to move toward something rather than run away from something. Interaction with students from different parts of the country as well as different parts of the world helped him to broaden his horizons. The time and distance from family and friends gave him a unique opportunity for his own personal development. The structured classroom and living environment promoted personal discipline and self-reliance as well as responsibility. Immediate accountability for his actions allowed us to celebrate when he made good choices and anguish when he did not.

When Matt went to Oak Hill he was at a critical decision point in his young life and he knew it. Oak Hill was the turning point where he made the choice to take a better path for his future. It was a time of reflection for him as he took a moral inventory of his life and began personalizing his own belief system. It was a time of renewed energy for our family as the separation helped us to focus on our long-term relationship with our gifted son rather than coping with the temporary nature of adolescence.

Our family continues to be enriched because of our involvement with Oak Hill Academy. Matt continues to grow as a person as we do as a family. There have been bumps in the road, but the road is smoothing out and it is straighter and stronger. Matt's self doubt has given way to increasing self-confidence and belief in himself. His attitude toward the future is hopeful and optimistic as his perspective on life has evolved. His personal standards as well as his personal expectations have been raised. Oak Hill gave him a new beginning, a sense of direction and instilled the desire and commitment to succeed.

Sometimes you love someone too much and are too close to a situation to be effective. Sometimes you need help, new energy, new surroundings, and a new beginning. Don't give up just before the miracle! Oak Hill was a real turning point in Matt's life and in our lives. His experience was our investment in him, an investment for his lifetime.

After Matt's graduation, we have remained involved with Oak Hill. It has been an important family commitment for us to have an on-going financial opportunity to support the school's mission of changing lives one person at a time. There are lots of promising young people whose lives can be touched forever through Oak Hill-we contribute to make sure this happens.

Recently, I was elected to the Board of Trustees at Oak Hill Academy. My service on that Board begins in 2006. I am very honored and humbled to be given an additional opportunity to be a part of something that I believe in so passionately and has made such a difference in our family.