Craig arrived at My Friend’s House (MFH) in the spring of 2010, toward the end of his freshman year in high school. He was in need of supervision, drug and alcohol counseling, credit recovery, and lots of guidance. What he got was THAT and a whole lot more.
It is fair to say he was not thrilled to be here initially. However, it did not take long for him to understand the program, excel in it, and become a leader for the other boys. He has very fond memories of his stay at MFH…everything from having a home, the programs, the life-long friends he made with a few of the other boys, the healthy relationships with the staff, and the opportunities and activities that were afforded him while he was here. Among his favorites were attending the Predators and Titans games and being able to work out at the YMCA.
He admired all the staff and soon realized that direct care staff was working to make a better life for him and all the boys…even during their pitfalls and struggles.
In the spring of 2011, Craig graduated from the program and left MFH to go live with a foster family for a short while before moving to his final foster home…which reunited him with his sister. He stayed with these foster parents through his high school graduation and they provided the additional care and stability he needed. During this time in his life, Craig benefitted from a relationship with Youth Connections, an organization providing resources for young men and women 16-26 years of age. He served as a spokesperson for them around the region and spoke at various functions.
Craig enrolled at Tennessee State University in the nursing program with plans to become a registered nurse. He has one semester left to complete before graduation. Craig is currently working as a mechanic's assistant at INSTEEL and is engaged to be married to Martha Hernandez.
He credits MFH with getting him on the right path and laying the foundation for all his success. He humbly admits that without his stay at MFH, things would likely have turned out much differently for him.
