“ What made us choose Eckerd was the fact that it was tailored to each child. ”
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 Searcy. “And by that I mean he faced possibly going to prison.” Fortunately for Blake, his parents instead sent him to Eckerd Academy. 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, Eckerd Academy was the perfect choice for his son. Eckerd Academy helps troubled teenagers face their problems and deal with them. It also instills trust in others, teaches teamwork and encourages kids to face and overcome challenges.
“What made us choose Eckerd was the fact that it was 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.”
According to Gary, the change has been nothing short of amazing. Today, Blake is in his mid-twenties, and is a responsible young man, holding down a job and living on his own in an apartment. “The main thing we wanted out of all of this was a relationship with our son. And I think we’ve now got a pretty good one.”
Blake said his success also could 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.”
