High school is really hard for a lot of us.  I was looking for belonging in the wrong places, so was my friend Tyler who was dealing with depression and anxiety in unhealthy ways. There are so many things that are standing in the way of finding success, but Take a Hike helps youth overcome those challenges. 

I was headed down a dark path. I definitely wasn’t going to graduate high school, and I think I would either be in jail or dead if I hadn’t found Take a Hike.

In Take a Hike, I learned there were adults that cared about me and my future. I could depend on the staff and volunteers to be there for me, and help me through the tough times.  

I found I could excel during the out days and trips. That gave me confidence, and it translated to other areas of my life. I finally had a community, that felt like family, and was supported through the good times and the bad.  

More than anything, I learned how to deal with challenges in a healthy way. And I have carried that lesson into the rest of my life.