Maggie Mahoney Found a Happily Normal Life

Maggie Mahoney, 26, wakes up every day, has breakfast, and gets ready for work. She kisses her husband, Eric, goodbye as she leaves their house. Maggie works full time as the Accounts Manager at a dental clinic, attends college at night to become a computer programmer, and still helps out on her father’s charter fishing boat on weekends. Sounds pretty ordinary, doesn’t it? Not to Maggie!

At 14, Maggie was already a repeat runaway. She quit school, and began hanging with kids who eventually were caught for stealing a car. Back then, Maggie could not imagine that she would ever be living her happily normal life today.

“If it wasn’t for Eckerd Youth Alternatives, I don’t know where I’d be today. Probably in jail, or worse,” said Maggie. In 1991, her arrest for grand theft auto landed her in the Florida Juvenile Justice System. Fortunately, instead of incarceration, the judge chose another option. He sent Maggie to Eckerd Youth Alternatives E-Nini-Hassee.

“One of the first things we did was set my goals for successfully completing the program,” Maggie said. “Every day my chiefs (counselors) would work with me to help me recognize my strengths and learn to take responsibility for my actions.”

And she did. Maggie returned to high school and graduated in 1995. She and Eric were married in January 2002 and plan to start a family after Maggie completes college.

“Because of my Eckerd experience, I know that I’ll be able to create a better home life for my children,” Maggie said. “I will listen more closely and be more open with them. The program taught me to appreciate what my parents provided for me, and to make the right decisions for myself and my life. I plan to pass that on to my kids someday.”