September 13, 2016

Cameron did whatever he could to avoid school. It was just too hard to keep up.

When he was younger, he really wanted to be a good student. But no matter how much he studied, he still received poor grades. He would try to ask his mother for help, but she worked several jobs to provide for his family, so she never had much extra time. And Cameron barely saw his dad at all.

Even his teachers were too wrapped up dealing with troublemakers in his class to give him extra attention.

By the time Cameron reached middle school, he had given up. He knew he couldn’t be successful even if he wanted to. He decided he wasn’t a smart kid.

So he stopped bothering to do his homework. During class, he would goof off with his friends or go to sleep. His teachers saw him as another troublemaker, and never pushed him to do better.

Eventually, Cameron was skipping classes whenever he could. He would just hang around his neighborhood.

But where Cameron lived, the streets meant gangs. Even though he was young, there was no way to avoid them. Cameron had to get involved just to keep himself safe.

For Cameron, things starting spiraling out of control. He was failing every single one of his classes at school. He rarely showed up. When he did, he would fight with other students and end up in the principal’s office.

He hated the path his life had taken. But he didn’t know what he could do to change things.

One day, the principal sat him down for a frank discussion. He told Cameron that if he continued to behave the way he did, the consequences for his future could be dire. Then he told Cameron about Mercy Home.

He explained that at Mercy Home, Cameron wouldn’t have to worry about staying safe out in the streets. Instead, he would be able to focus on what was really important—ending his gang involvement and getting caught up in school.

Cameron was unsure about leaving his family. But he soon realized that if he wanted to turn his life around, Mercy Home was the place to do it. He moved in shortly after.

In his first days at Mercy Home, Cameron was embarrassed to admit to us just how behind he was in school. He didn’t even know where to start.

But every night, our tutors sat with him and helped go through his homework. And every time they came across something he had missed, they would learn it together.

Piece by piece, Cameron started getting a handle on the material. Knowing that our tutors and our coworkers believed in his potential, and knowing that friends like you were supporting him, too, Cameron’s confidence began to grow.

Since coming to Mercy Home, Cameron has been working hard and has raised his grades from F’s to C’s. He still has a long way to go before he catches up with his peers, but his progress has convinced him that he can do anything he puts his mind to.

Having the individualized support and care he has always needed has transformed Cameron’s life. For the first time since he was little, he is optimistic about his future. Thanks to the support of friends like you, Cameron knows that he can plan for a better life for himself.

Thank you for supporting kids like Cameron by giving them a safe and encouraging place to call home. We know that with your love and support, there is no limit to what our kids can accomplish.

Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed.