A Mother's Story

Penny stands by her son James as he graduates from the Phoenix Academy of Austin.

By Penny Knox Byrnes

When my son James was 17, he didn't care about school or anything for that matter. I was desperate to keep him in high school and off drugs. I knew that if he were to drop out and was strung out on drugs, he would have nothing to offer the world. So, I am forever grateful that, when he got in trouble, the judge sent him to the Phoenix Academy in Austin.

I was not sure what to expect when I drove James there. But the first thing I noticed was how clean and groomed the campus was. There were no bars or fences to keep the students there, and that was a relief to me. The students were in school when we arrived, but as soon as school was over, they were all busy doing their assigned jobs. I felt a sense of peace leaving James there and none of the guilt I'd felt when he was in jail. This was a community he could become part of as he went through treatment.

I, too, became part of the community. I was committed from the beginning to helping James every way I could, and the teachers and counselors at the school made this possible. I took every opportunity to visit, took part in every parents group, and made refreshments and decorations for community events. I met so many other parents who had walked in my shoes and were committed to their children the same way I was committed to mine.

As James' time at Phoenix passed, he became the kind, clear headed boy I knew before. He started caring about school again and he grew in stature and responsibility in the community, becoming a valued student leader.

James completed treatment, was graduated from high school, was released from probation and turned 18 all on the same day. He has gained values and skills at Phoenix that he could not have acquired any other way. My deepest, heartfelt thanks go to the staff, teachers, and counselors at the Phoenix Academy and to the judge who had the foresight to send James there.

There are no guarantees after treatment. But I am certain that we did the right thing for James, and I can sleep at night knowing that I did everything I could to help. I hope that when I am gone, James' memory of me will be that I fought for him.