The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has been improving the lives of at-risk children
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1546265
Her support system includes the girls in her cottage, her Cottage Mom, and her supervisor at the Maintenance Department, Mr. Kelly. "If I have a negative thought, they are always there to tell me, 'No, you're doing good. I'm proud of you.' And that means a lot to me because I usually never got a 'proud of you' from anybody before I came here." Positive reinforcement surrounded Talesha in the cottage, at work program, and, most importantly, in school. The place where she was the most sure of her inadequacies became a place where she shone. "[Cooke School] is more hands-on, and the teachers were always available after school to be one-on-one so I could understand better. And instead of being called stupid by my classmates for not knowing something, they all pitched in to help me." This past awards season, Talesha was welcomed to the stage by the Director of Education to receive the "Most Improved at Cooke School" award. In front of a crowd of two hundred donors, Sheriffs, staff, and Ranchers, Talesha saw her hard work pay off. "I'm so surprised!" she said to the Director over the roar of applause. "I am so proud of myself!" Talesha's journey to believing in herself was a group effort. As the old saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child." The village at the Youth Ranches isn't just the staff who care deeply about their students and Ranchers; it's also the kids who understand that they are in this together. The Ranches had thirteen graduating seniors this past spring, and Talesha will join many of her peers at the Scholarship House program. This program is tailored to meet the needs of young adults navigating the world for the first time. Talesha will have extra help as she starts college, finds a job, and builds a new support system. This time, she has more faith in herself. After moving to the Scholarship House, Talesha is planning on pursuing her dream of working in law enforcement. "I've always been obsessed with police shows, like Law and Order," Talesha said. "Before I came to the Ranch, I did a Criminal Justice class, and I really liked it and wanted to continue with that." Recently, the Youth Ranches helped Talesha connect and talk with Leon County Undersheriff Dr. Argatha Gilmore. Dr. Gilmore's career in law enforcement spans over twenty years, and she shared her experiences with Talesha. "I got to hear how she grew in her profession, and how much she loved it," Talesha said. "It was good to hear about her experiences, both the good and the bad. It gave me courage about being a police officer because I could see how excited she was to talk about her career, and I want that excitement in my career." Thanks to your support of the Youth Ranches, Talesha is stepping into adulthood with confidence and direction. We're so excited to see what she accomplishes next, knowing that she has faith in her own abilities to pursue success! Former Rancher Savannah (left) was one of the Ranchers who had a big impact on Talesha. They saw each other as sisters, and encouraged each other during their time at the program. These two ladies had a lot of fun growing up here, including this day on the lake sponsored by the Bondurant family. T H E R A N C H E R FA L L 2 0 2 6 2 1