Things Can Get Better

Mike's Story

By Toby Lineaweaver, Executive Director

Sometimes all it takes to make the difference between success and failure is hanging in there long enough. In the case of Mike, long enough for Penikese and Mike to outlast his own worst enemy, himself.

He wasn’t physically threatening, but he didn’t need to be. Instead of his fists, Mike threw punches with well-aimed words in a Boston twang that sliced to bone. Worse, Mike practically crackled with tension and manic energy, riding a frantic emotional roller coaster that unfailingly crested at the worst possible times. Few students – few people! – were more alert and cunning, and no one escaped his bear trap personality. In short, he could be terrifying.

Mike’s behavior communicated a true story of shattered esteem and sense of failure and utter worthlessness for which he used his words as an offensive defense. This strategy worked well for him, but took a terrible toll on others. Banished from high school, quickly expelled from everywhere else since, Mike came to Penikese a pariah, yet another unwanted long-shot boy.

Difficult as he was, Mike was keenly motivated to improve the quality of his relationships, harness his tongue and anger, and win back his family. But time and again, poised on the brink of the success he so badly wanted and feared, Mike would plunge the detonator handle, and boom!  Gamely, Mike would pick up the pieces, regroup, and go on. Forever on the edge of expulsion, Mike would survive yet another day and, amazingly, finally earned graduation.

Mike graduated in a ceremony that, considering all we’d been through together, was uncharacteristically uneventful. Afterwards, Mike quickly settled into an uneventful and everyday rhythm of school and work.

Later, we received a letter from his mother Mary, thanking us. She wrote: “I just wanted to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication. I’ve never come across a program with so many caring and loving people. I believe if Mike succeeds in his life it will be mostly because of you. He grew up a lot on Penikese, and I know he’s going to miss you all terribly. You are his second family.”

In case you hadn’t guessed, there is no secret or magic to this process, just tremendous struggle. Those causing the most trouble are, like Mike, often the ones doing the real work to grow and change.