Doing What It Takes

Academic struggles are common among troubled teens.  Giving them the opportunity to catch up and start passing classes while they are being helped with their emotional and behavioral issues is the primary advantage of a therapeutic high school.  One student here who believes as we do, that an education is necessary for a successful life, has nevertheless been reluctant to actually put forth the effort necessary to do better in school. 

In discussing his dilemma, and the apparent contradiction between what he says and what he does, his peers told him that nobody can do his school work for him.  "You won't pass just because you're here," one friend said.  "You have to do the work."  A staff person then added,  "We're not just talking about school work, either," suggesting that the boy needs to be working more with his counselor here, too.  He needs to open up and start talking about what is bothering him.  In addition to his school work, he needs to do the hard emotional work of letting someone in.