What shall we do
when we're thrown off our successful road....
and, land in an old failing life again?
  
Well, lets ask Justin...

__________ ___________


Justin left our school program in 2002, went home and failed.  He later went to Lincoln's ChalleNGe in 2003. He excelled in the ChalleNGe Program and then went home and failed.  Next, he then went to the Illinois National Guard, excelled in basic training, came home and failed.  
Then he enlisted in The Army in 2005 and went through a wedding, a seperation and lots of drama.  He spent a year in Korea and a couple years in The States.  After three years in the military, he returned home in 2008.

       

I recall talking with Justin before his last enlistment.  He said he thought he would have to make the military a life-long career.  I told him it was his best place for a few years but maybe he shouldn't plan too far in advance.

 



It's been a rocky life's road for Justin.

   
 
But, along the way, he's touched a lot lives and he's left a lot good thoughts behind.  

 Oh yes, here's one he left for me...  


A cadet's letter...

I just want you to know how you’ve touched my life and what you mean to me.  I’m not so good at just writing so I’ll have to write it in a poem.  Don’t laugh or anything.

Brad…
To so many you’ve been like a dad.
Believe it or not, .
You’ve helped us to see
what we’ve always sought.

You’ve been the light of our life.
You’ve been the arrow to our road,
You’ve been there through
think and through thin.
And, still every time we fall, we look up,
And there you are again.

You never gave up…
as if it were a part of your belief.
And for that, I thank and applaud you,
For helping me to see.

Thank you, Brad, for evertything!!!!!
(Brad, you are one of the very few I trust)

Thank you,

 
Justin   

In November, 2008 he's waiting...
 So you might ask...
What happens when
you are intellegent but have lots of "growing up" to do...
And, then,  you're forced to return home?  
You'll be plagued with the sight of your own failure.
You'll struggle to return to your successful life.
And, along the way. you'll try to find relief in drugs and alcohol.


Woops... it's 2011 and Justin sits in jail.
Woops...the charge is murder.
Woops...looks like a big bump in life's road!


Extenuating circumstances?  Oh yes.  
Excused behavior?  No.
Life changing event?  Oh yes.
The story ends?...  No, it goes on, and on, and on.
Right now, it's at a very sad level.
Right now, he's just waiting for the the legal process to play out!
He's been sitting in jail for a year and they anticipate another year before the court process begins
_________________________________________________

(If you can't help, then just run home and forget this story.)

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