RESULTS

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
 

Written by 17-year old Lauren J. about her experience at ASCENT.
 

"The most significant event of my life took place over a time span of six weeks at a beautiful camp in the lush forests near Sandpoint, Idaho. The camp that I attended was called "ASCENT," which comes from the word "ascend." To the people who run the camp, ascent means taking everything that you have learned from your past and from your experiences at the camp, and apply that to your everyday life. ASCENT has a theme, which is "self-discovery in nature." The counselors work very hard to find the root cause of each individual's "problems" and to teach each individual new ways of handling difficult situations. After attending ASCENT I felt I had a whole new outlook on life, and I can safely say that this program saved my life.

For about two years I have been struggling with severe depression and a severe mood disorder. Day after day would pass, and still I could not find any happiness. I often thought about objects that I did not have, or the friends that were not true. After school got out each day, I would go straight to my room and just cry. If I was not crying, I was sleeping. I felt that sleeping was the easiest way to ease my pain. The only problem was I would awake from my sleep and find the pain was still there. After endless therapy, my parents felt more should be done to help me. In June, my parents and I flew out to Idaho and so began my journey to a better and more loving life.

The first week was very hard for me at ASCENT. I had never been away from my parents for more than a week and the thought of being without them for six weeks tore me up inside. The only communication that I would have with my parents was through letters. I could not write my friends, or even my brother who means the world to me.

I slept in a tipi with only a sleeping bag. I had none of my personal items. All that belonged to me for those six weeks was my sleeping bag, a pair of pants, five t-shirts, socks, and shorts. I was awakened every morning by a counselor yelling" FIVE MINUTES!" In five minutes, my clothes and hat had to be on and all my gear had to plumb and square. I had days, which were filled with chopping wood, sawing wood, cleaning the kitchen, or other camp chores. At first I felt that this program was only about hard labor and nothing about emotional work. After a time, however, my opinion changed and I found that ASCENT was the best thing that could ever have happened to me. I began, for one thing, to have confidence in my ability to do things.

I talked at length with my counselors about the death of my aunt who meant very much to me, and about where I thought my depression and anger came from. Opening up to people actually felt good.

After three weeks at the camp, I went out into the wilderness of Montana with seven other kids. I believe that this was where all the changes in me really took place. Each night I had to build my own tarp and help the group set up camp. I had to learn to rely on myself for the things that I needed. I learned how to talk with my group members when things got difficult. I was forced to confront my issues during this time. The seven other kids I was with knew me well. They knew my history, my behaviors, and my emotions. With those kids I could not hide. When I was out in the wilderness for seven days with them, my problems were setting right out in the open, and I could not go anywhere. I could not pretend they were not there and I could not hide from them. My friends forced me to face my issues and fight with all the strength I had in my heart.

Six weeks had finally passed and I received word that I was going back home. When my parents came to pick me up from ASCENT, it was one of the happiest moments of my life. I turned from where I was standing and saw them walking into the camp. I ran towards my mother and father and held them both with tears running down my face. All I could say to them was, "I missed you." They knew the joy I felt, because they were feeling it too. My mother and father never gave up on me, and have since changed my life. I found a reason to be happy. I found my parents and I found their love. I found that I could survive rough times and still smile. I found an ability to talk to others when I was hurting and I learned to confront my pain even when it hurt. Most importantly I found myself."