Over the Edge

A week ago I was asked to jump off the Brady Sullivan tower to raise money for the Youth Council here in Nashua.

That's sounded scary, downright terrifying in fact, so of course I to agreed to do it.

Donate here! (edited link to 2020 fund raising page for new jump!)

I've had sometime to read up more on what the youth council does and I'm asking you please donate to their cause. This is much more than me having a exciting opportunity to rappel off a sky scrapper, this is about kids at risk.

Stock photo from Pixabay

One of the big programs they have is a court diversion program. This program allows for first time offending juveniles, children, who have committed only minor offensives. To face consequences outside of the court system. Last year only one participant failed to complete their contract, with the program. This in my eyes is huge, as this program helps children who have made a single bad judgement. Because that is exactly what they are, children who made a single mistake. It helps them to not suffer lifelong consequences from a single foolish mistake. After that the program helps to reduce the likelihood, of a second offence.

That alone is fantastic, but this is why it strikes me.

Did you get surprised by the recent college scandal? Where you shocked that wealthy people, used their money to buy their children into colleges, they might not qualify for?

If you search enough you'll also find that wealthy people hire lawyers to make charges against their children go away or have their children face minimal penalties for felonies. It's almost a joke in this country that the better your lawyer are the less likely you will get in trouble. Now I can't speak for what happens at home between the parents and the child for consequences, but those wealthy children rarely have to worry about future back ground checks for jobs.

Me in 1995 for Senior Prom

I grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts. I can't name names as the details have been forgotten in time, but I can tell you bored rich kids get in trouble. They make as many bad decisions as any other kid, sometimes more. They will have to cross a serious line, before they even have to do more than apologize to the police officer at the scene. The police know that arresting those kids would only cost the town, and county money, when the city fails to prosecute against a high priced legal team.

The Youth Council program allows children without family money to avoid LONG TERM consequences of  bad decision made with the inexperience of youth. The kids don't get away with with their crime, they still have various tasks to complete as part of the program. They get a chance to learn from their mistake, and to become better members of society. Not every youth can sign up, juvenile officers from the Nashua, Hollis, Merrimack, Hudson, and Litchfield police departments forward arrest records to the program. Where the program processes the records for the best candidates.

If you're still not sure the Youth Council Program is a good idea, imagine the amount of tax dollars saved by the future years of these youth not becoming repeat offender adults.

Please donate to this program, and if you are reading this knowing you are one of those children that benefited from the uneven playing field of socioeconomic classes, toss in a few dollars.

Stock photo from Pixabay

Walking through fear

In 2006 I traveled to Arizona alone to visit family. This was written back then. 

On Saturday I conquered my first fear of my vacation. I was a bit worried that I would fly out to Arizona and then sit around waiting for someone to plan something or someone to do activities with. For about an hour I puttered on that line, before deciding I’d just go for a drive. To know my area, I’d drive out to the place I wanted to go on the trail ride. A few minutes later on mapquest, I discovered how close I was to the ranch, the plan was set, and off I went.

As I headed off in my boat of a rental car over the dry river, a level of calm came over me. I was out on an adventure, driving to who knows where all by myself. A few turns later I discovered I was in Saguaro National Park. I pulled over at a picnic area to change from my tevas to boots. It was rattlesnake season after all. While there I bumped into a pair of rangers, the younger of the two walked me to his truck, gave me a map and suggestions on where to walk. I had no idea I could pull over anywhere, just get out and walk. 

I drove back to the edge of the park where I entered, pulled over and started walking. Once I was away from the road, the fear hit me. The rational logical voice started in saying “Johanna, you are a 5’3” female, you are in a strange area, you can handle city, but no one will hear you scream out here” I paused, listened, and kept walking. The voice continued, and I pondered it moving slower, wondering should I turn around now, if something happened it would be days before the connection was made as to who disappeared. I kept going having decided I would not miss out on this opportunity just because of a fear of a minute chance that I’d get killed in the middle of no where. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I was scared, and the next 20 feet I could feel every hair on my body, would life call me on my decision, was danger right around the next rock face. The ground turned to sandy gravel, not a terrain I could run quickly in and then it passed. I had accepted my risks and preferred the rewards. The weight of the fear removed, I walked on.

Eventually I found a patch of shade, sat down, took out a journal and wrote. I listened to the birds, the movement of bugs and small animals I could not see. I watched the surroundings. I breathed. I was for a moment without fear.