Spring 2003 "The Big Picture"

“I liked the oldest lady because she had so much energy.   It made me think of how ignorant it was for me to say I'm tired of life at only age 18.”

  – Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility, 18-year old boy

“I really enjoyed hearing the personal stories; it made me feel like they trusted us and it helped me with my own problems.” – Warrenton High School, 15-year old girl

“It surprised me that people from the community would come in and share their real-life experiences with us.” – Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility, 16-year old boy

“I related most to the woman who gets depressed and eats.   I have that, too, and am currently getting counseling to try and improve.   Her story is encouraging.”

– Opportunity Center, 17-year old girl

“I got the best advice I have ever gotten:   you can't change the past, but you can change the future.   Thanks.”               – Lane County Detention, 15-year old boy

“You guys told us you were going to tell the truth, and that's just what you did.   If anybody has a problem with it, it's THEIR problem.”

– Warrenton High School, 17-year old girl

“I learned that knowing yourself is what counts, not what other people want you to be.”

  – Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility, 18-year old boy

“You touched on so many of the things that we high-schoolers deal with every single day, and you made them seem important, even though they might not seem too important to other adults.   So many kids our age dismiss people of your age as being old-fashioned and out of the loop, but you proved to every single one of us that we were dead wrong.”

  – Warrenton High School, 16-year old girl

“Whoa!   That is some heavy stuff…and look how they came out!”

– Ashland High School, 18-year old boy