Strength Of The Young :: What Others Say

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT S.O.T.Y

Strength of the Young/Spirit Life group is a wonderful addition to any school program dealing with prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping. Students certainly relate to this group’s approach to the above topics. We appreciate their efforts and determination to work with at-risk students. They are genuinely concerned with problems and issues of this generation and are willing to put forth tremendous energy to work with youths. Their program at Fort King Middle School is well accepted and is always looked forward to in the celebration of Black History month.
Ellie Steele, Teacher, Fort King Middle School

The Strength of the Young program has grown into a vital intervention program for our young male students at Osceola Middle School. We have noticed in the Discipline Office that the students whom we referred to the program are not seen nearly as often now as we did at the beginning of the school year. The students look forward to their weekly meetings with the Strength of the Young coordinators. There has been such a positive aura surrounding the involvement of this program that students have requested permission to be part of it. Recently, during a faculty meeting where we, as a staff, conducted a mid year review, a faculty member wanted to recognize the impact the Strength of the Young program has had on the students involved. This recognition of the program received many affirmations from additional faculty members as a program that we would like to continue as part of the programs offered at Osceola Middle School. I have seen the Strength of the Young program grow and the coordinators involved are dedicated to the purpose of the program. It has benefitted many young men at our school and I hope that the positive direction that the program instills in the students will help the young men through trying situations in life.
-Troy Sanford, Assistant Principal, Osceola Middle School

The Strength of the Young program creates an environment, which emphasizes the importance of character awareness in developing and addressing successful, effective academic and behavioral relationships. Much emphasis is placed on students’ responsibilities for their actions and decision-making skills. Hands-on activities promoting positive character development are utilized in the program. Group discussions take place, which assist the students in recognizing the importance of strong peer relationships. Techniques are also applied in which students are given the opportunity to realize there are always consequences for their actions. In conclusion, I would evaluate The Strength of the Young program as a vehicle emphasizing the importance of commitment, openness, and sensitivity in developing positive character development and peer relationships.
-Kenneth Ochs, Teacher, Osceola Middle School

I wish to express my deepest appreciation to you and all of the members of Strength of the Young. Your continuous dedication to the youth and community of Ocala has been commendable. For the last three years, Strength of the Young has worked closely with the Ocala Police Department primarily with the Resource Officers from Fort King, Osceola, Howard and West Port Middle Schools. Strength of the Young has donated time and resources to the Ocala Police Department for the last four (4) G.R.E.A.T. celebrations. G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) has been taught in Ocala schools since 1997. Your presentations of Drug and Violence free alternatives reinforce the concepts we promote in both G.R.E.A.T. and D.A.R.E and our partnership with your organization is greatly appreciated. It is my belief that Strength of the Young emphasizes the positive messages and goals that we set for our children in the City of Ocala. I wish to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the youth of Ocala.
-Charles Eades, Corporal, Ocala Police Department Special Operations

I just want to express my gratitude about the program Strength of the Young. This program gives students the opportunity to be open, ask questions, feel comfortable, and to just be a “kid”, which is a characteristic that seems to be taken away from students more and more each year. This is my first year teaching in Marion County. I have taught the previous of my eleven years in Ohio. I have taught all ages, from sixth to seniors. I have seen several programs come and go. This program is excellent. Any positive reinforcement to a child is an outstanding accomplishment. All students long to feel important, if only for a little while. My fifth period students attend Strength of the Young every Thursday. The benefits of this program go a long way. My students leave the classroom confident, smiling, and with a positive attitude. The men and women of Strength of the Young that work with our students are patient, straight forward, driven, and put forth a true caring attitude that students soak in like a sponge. They look forward to Thursdays, and they love that they are lucky enough to be a part of such a positive program. My only complaint is that all of my students do not get to participate.
Deidre’ Whitt, Sixth Grade Language Arts, West Port Middle School

Pastor Tristan, Most sincere thanks to you and everyone else associated with the Strength of the Young basketball program. As a parent who believes in the efficacy of sports to teach preparation for life, I was gratified to see how much my son, Monty, learned from his participation in your program this summer. Your program was most noticeably characterized by unselfishness. Among your volunteers, there was a perceptible sense of desire to serve. Coaches, scorekeepers, statisticians, refreshment personnel, and guys who just seemed to lug stuff around and clean up trash all set the theme for the games, and it was reflected by the players. As a new kid and one of the younger players, Monty’s anxiety about acceptance was met only by a generous willingness to help him learn and participate. Coaches, teammates, and opponents all reached out to encourage him. Although he has heard fulfillment through serving others preached to him, most of Monty’s previous sports experiences haven’t shown many examples of it. Thank you for an excellent illustration of the “unto others” message. The level of competition was unexpectedly high. (Upon watching one of Monty’s games, Anthony Smith, a Meadowbrook Academy graduate who will be playing for Warner Christian College this year, said, “I wish I’d known about this. This is legitimate competition.”) Your policy and reminders during the games that all kids must get playing time benefited and encouraged the less talented to try hard, too. Iron sharpens iron. The gentle humor that characterized your play-by-play announcements was fundamental to the success of Strength of the Young basketball. You never undermined excellence in competition by resorting to the “play nice, boys” admonitions that many Christian programs feel obliged to espouse, and your humorous barbs at mistakes by players and coaches resulted in a shared sense of fun among the competitors. You promoted excellence, but softened with humor the mistakes that we all must make if we are to become successful. Well done. Thanks again to you, your staff and volunteers, and to all the Strength of the Young players for the best sports experience my son has yet enjoyed. See you next summer.

-Jerry Wilson

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