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VIEWPOINT OF A TEXAS CHALLENGE ACADEMY CADET
I never knew I would actually warm up to enjoy Texas Challenge Academy. Before I came to Texas Challenge Academy, I thought this was just another punishment my mother was trying to give me so that I would stop skipping school or actually learn how to talk to females since I have no sisters. I wasn’t really happy, but I decided to come.
I am in Echo platoon. We have so many different personalities in the bay from sassiness, to sadness, to “hangriness”. It is always something new when you walk into our bay. One thing I can say though is Echo bay is more than a bunch of girls. Echo bay is full of learning young women who came here to do better for their family and themselves.
The days at TCA go fast. They are days filled with activities. Not a day goes by at TCA that we not running around doing our activates or getting ready for real jobs when we leave here.
The staff makes it as comfortable as they can for us and makes sure we feel safe so we can at least enjoy the 5 months and 2 days in a calm environment. TCA is really a good place to send high schoolers that lack the credits or is their last chance “Go to School or Go to Jail” type place.
Some things I will never forget are the sayings, “Mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it won’t matter” or “Your 100% today shouldn’t be your 100% the next day”. One thing I can say about TCA is that it really does open your eyes to a lot of stuff that you never really paid attention to in life.
My mom always used to tell me, “I don’t want to bury you before I can bury myself,” and it really has stuck to me now. Here at TCA, I realize TCA I realize how my mom must have felt with me never being home, and I am glad I had the opportunity to change. I’m excited to go home and show her the changes.
