I was at Walnut Grove for a while. I’m here in this “Step-Up” program , about 4 months so far. They teach you life skills here so we all help with cooking, cleaning…stuff like that. I never had a room this big and this nice in my life. I think maybe I want to play professional basketball. I wear this badge for my dad. He died in Iraq. He was a sergeant. My Mom visits me once in a while. This is an OK place. The book I’m reading? To Kill a Mockingbird. Do you know it?

- J.K., age 17