She stood by as her older brother became addicted to drugs as a tenth grader. A few months later, he dropped out of school.

Another sibling got mixed up in gang-related activities, and it left him with a chronic disability.

When Amber searched for someone to show her what it looked like to successfully navigate her trying high school years, there was no one to be found. So, she began skipping school, feeling uninspired by her classes and disconnected from her peers.

Eventually her inconsistent attendance led to a report card filled with F’s, and it seemed like her path might look similar to her older siblings’.

Until she met Jillian.

“The first thing I did was ask her about her goals and interests,” says Jillian Durdan, a lead counselor at Lutheran Services Florida. But Amber didn’t know how to respond because she hadn’t really explored any passions, and therefore had no idea about the direction of her future.

Jillian gave Amber an assessment that helped her uncover her strengths, and then together, they wrote down a few specific goals. They also talked about coping strategies for difficult times and ways that Amber could better connect with those around her.

Filled with purpose and direction, Amber turned things around.

Before long, she was making straight A’s. She also enrolled in dual enrollment classes, which meant she went from having a GPA under 2.0 to earning college credit.

“I’ve been doing this job for more than five years and to watch these young people turn their lives around right before my eyes is still the best part.”

Your child could be our next success story.

LSF offers free individual counseling through a program known as Children in Need of Services/ Families in Need of Services (CINS/FINS). If your child is running away from home, having truancy issues, becoming defiant or struggling with mental health issues, get in touch with a counselor today by visiting our website.

After a personal assessment, our clinicians will develop a treatment plan that meets the youth’s needs and help put them on the path toward success.