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News> Success Stories> Blake Searcy
Father, Son Discover Better Path at Eckerd
Teenager Blake Searcy was making bad decisions and running out of options. “If Blake got in trouble one more time, then he was going to be sent away,” says his father, Gary. “And by that, I mean he was going to prison.”
Fortunately for Blake, his parents instead sent him to
Eckerd
Academy
at
Brooksville
,
FL
(formerly known as E-How-Kee). Counselors there were not looking to judge or punish him, but to help him get his life back on track. Looking back, Blake recalls: “I needed help. I really needed help. I was going nowhere.”
For Gary Searcy, Eckerd outdoor therapeutic program was the perfect choice for his son. Eckerd helps troubled youth face their problems and deal with them. It also instills trust in others, teaches teamwork, encourages kids to face and overcome challenges.
 “What made us choose Eckerd was the fact that the program was going to be tailored to each child,”
Gary
says. “We looked at a lot of programs – anything from military schools to boot camps. Those programs were not going to give Blake what he really needed.”
The focus on building strong individuals worked with Blake, as it has with thousands of others. Kids realize they are not bad people, but good kids who have made bad decisions.
Gary
said the change has been nothing short of amazing: “The main thing we wanted out of all of this was a relationship with our son. And I think we’ve got a pretty good one.”
Today, Blake, 19, has his own apartment and job in the grocery business. Having completed his apprenticeship for meat cutter, he’s on track to become an assistant manager. “Blake is real upbeat, loves his job and hasn’t asked us for a dime,”
Gary
says. “He was able to get his own apartment because he works hard and is good at planning things.”
Blake said his success also can be attributed to his father, who always stood by him. “My Dad tells me he has never given up on me, and he never will.”
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