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VIEWPOINT FROM A TEXAS CHALLENGE ACADEMY CADET
My name is Jackson Randall Banks. I come from Richmond- Rosenberg where I was attending Lamar High School. I played football and was wrestl ing, track, and in AFROTC (Air Force ROTC).
Before I came to Texas ChalleNGe Academy, I was having a hard life in different ways. Life had a lot of challenges for me. I had a case worker named Jill Davis. She helped me so much, and if I won the jackpot, I would give her half of it. She told my R.O.T.C Sgt that I was having problems in the outside world. Then, after some time, my Sgt found a program called TCA.
He asked me, “Do you want to try this out.” I had second thoughts, but I said yes. So, Ms. Jil l was like cool, but the only problem was that I had to get my mom on board. The first day I was to be at TCA was January 11, but I had problems getting in until January 18.
Four days before I came to TCA, I found my blood parents and found out I had two little brothers and a little sister. That made me so happy and I spent time with them for the rest of the four days until I came to TCA.
The first day of TCA I was ready to leave because I was told so much about the week I had missed and was overwhelmed by everything. I didn’t give up though, and when acclimation ended and school started, the road became smoother. During the twelfth week here, I had some behavior issues, but the people here gave me another chance to get those under control, so I am still here getting better each day.
TCA has changed me despite the hiccups I have had. I have grown physical ly, mental ly, and more. If I were told to help other people to be successful at TCA, the best advice I would give them is to keep your head up, don’t break, and focus on what you came here for. It has given me hope for a future and I am grateful for being here.
