High School Drop-Outs Get Second Chance

High school drop-outs are getting another chance at a diploma in the metro, and learning job skills at the same time. It's happening through a program called "Youth Build."

Thursday, April 23rd 2009, 7:29 pm

By: News 9


By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- High school drop-outs are getting another chance at a diploma in the metro, and learning job skills at the same time. It's happening through a program called "Youth Build."

"I just went down the wrong road, street life really," said Marvin Cargile.

As teenagers, they dropped out of school. Now, they're helping rebuild, clean, and repaint homes, learning skills that will allow them to make an honest living.

"To do the Youth Build program, you kind of have to be disciplined to get out all you can get out of it," said William Chrystal.

Eagle Ridge's "Youth Build" program consists of two components -- manual labor and education. The students are usually referred by probation officers. Many have a criminal past.

"Many times we look at the students that we get, and oh, they're just problems. Everybody looks at them as something that they don't want to have to deal with. I look at that like these are future resources for the state of Oklahoma. They can give back. They can be a productive citizen," said Marie Burns with the Eagle Ridge Institute.

The young adults are working toward their GED. After that, many want to go to college. Marvin Cargile is already there, proud to be a student at OSU-OKC.

"This is a really good program. It helped me changed my life, I can really say," Cargile said.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

April 23rd, 2009

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024