Journal Post

Doesn’t it always seem to go that we don’t know who and what we have until it’s gone?

I am writing about Adam Wilkinson. He has done so much and this is all I have to give. The group home lost one of the best staff they had and ever will. I am on my way home this Monday. One of my first plans was to give him a hug. I could not have made it through this program without Adam. I have learned to take a deep breath and to just go with the flow of life from him.
I don’t know what to say so I’ll say that P. Diddy and his song “I’ll be missin you” explains it best. We all love and miss you Adam. In our hearts is where we keep you friend.

Regan

One of my biggest heroes is my older brother Devin. I have had so many good friends and examples in my life, but he still is probably the top of my list. I have made many mistakes since he has been gone.
I believe that if he had been home, I wouldn’t have made the choices I did that led me to AYS. When he left for his mission, I lost my best friend and my guide through tough times in my life. Two months later, I was getting into serious relationships and spending less time with my family.
I will be going home in around two months. My brother won’t be home for another nine months from the time I get back. I will have a tough time without him but I know I will stay out of trouble. My test will show if I really am man enough to stand up to the pressures of life.


Regan

I would donate all five million to West Jordan High School. I want to WJHS to start having region championships and hopefully a State Championship here soon. We have never won one in football in school history. A big problem is we lose our athletes to other rival schools. This happens because they want to play for a strong school. They don’t believe that about our program.
By having that money they could greatly improve their sports facilities. Having nice things would attract athletes, while putting the school on the map. Colleges would see more in WJHS. More scholarships would be offered to us.
I have hard feelings toward myself for leaving my brothers out in the cold the way I did. This would be a good way to start paying my debt back. Everything else is insignificant to me right now.

Regan

Holy War

This next weekend is rival weekend in college football! In my opinion the Holy War is the most exciting and entertaining of them all. BYU and Utah will clash in a rivalry that has captured the attention of the nation about four years ago. I’m ready and nervous for the game.
The teams are closely matched again. They have both played well. Utah has had a suprising season and won games they were favored to lose. BYU was a disappointment for me this year, and many other Cougar fans. No team has a sizeable advantage over the other. Utah does play at home. It is a rivalry game. All bets are off.
If BYU is to win this game they must step up on D. If the Cougars can get a swagger and a chip on their shoulder on the defensive side of the ball; they will win. Max Hall, Harvey Unga, and the rest of the offense will get the job done if they can get the ball.
If BYU wants a chance at a BCS bowl they must beat Air Force this weekend, and then Utah the next. All you blue fans need to rise and shout because our Cougars are out, and on their way to slamming Utah!

Regan

Fear
I am afraid I will never play football again. My high school chances of that are over and done with. I no longer have an opportunity of a scholarship. I have lost my muscle, weight, and speed. Biggest of all I can’t even talk to the coaches that are interested in me.
Football is one of the most important things to me in my life; I just can’t give it up. When my program demanded that of me I lost a part of myself. I don’t know if that part will ever come back. I know that the only person that can change my situation is myself. Maybe that is the scary part of it.
I should be working out during my time here at Summit while I am in gym. Instead I have been focused on giving back to the school and our new basketball team. If I truly have what it takes to play college ball I will get things done.
I hate addmitting I am wrong. Most everyone that has known me and knows my dreams has told me I won’t make it. That even includes family. I have always come through with what I say in the end. I can see my dream, and I am so close yet so far. Hope and faith is all I have. I have to do this for Regan, right here, right

Regan

Raiders Night


I just read an awesome book. The name of the book is called Raiders Night and it is a life long reader book. Being a football player and a team captain this book related to me well. Even if you are not into football this is a book for everyone.
It is an emotional story about the team captain Matt. He has some crap get out of hand during summer camp with hazing. When the ordeal threatens to tear the team and town apart, he and his best friends on the team (the Back Pack) have to decide what they will do as leaders.
Are the season and their D-1 scholarships more important than a teammate’s mental health and reputation? The book answers the question. If you want an uplifting story of learning to put self after others, this is it. I strongly recommend this book to all athletes.

Leadership

Leadership

Good leaders and idols I have seen in my life and I look up to are usually athletes. My favorite pro players are: Steve Young, Payton Manning, Champ Bailey, and Ladainian Tomlinson. Even though I am older than all of them, I still look up to and love my fellow teammates Tyler Wallace, Tyson Udy, DJ Tealivea.
I believe a great leader is someone who builds trust with those around them. Leaders generate a love from the people that follow them without trickery, manipulation, or force. Leaders also have to put the wants and needs of the group as a whole above themselves. They love their followers.
The greatest leaders lead first by example and then by vocalization. Being approachable and willing to listen is important too. Admitting wrongdoing or bad decisions and changing, as I see it, finishes and completes them. These are all things I am working on and striving to be. I was a leader in football but I went against these things. Hopefully I will earn another chance to redeem myself.

Regan

Tired

I’m tired of Americans fighting Americans. Topics of this modern day are pitting one group or party against another. A big issue lately has been stem cell research. Both sides have good points and stances. What I see when it really comes down to it is that we have no good way to go about arguing the research.

What scares me is that we as Americans are focused on mud slinging at each other instead of how to deal with our enemies that oppose our freedom. The Romans were the one of greatest nation this world had ever seen. Rome was destroyed by weak bands of Germanic tribes because the Romans had become lazy and power hungry. Their government was weakened because politicians’ self interests were more important than country and its people.

America and our people have become lazy and prideful, myself included. We are threatened by war or loss of an ally for our choices. Will we stand by and be pushed around or stand what we know is right?! Remember our forefather’s example. Us as the youth of this nation need to push ourselves to a higher standard and set the tone for this beautiful countries’ future. Lets get our dignity back.

Responsibility

Responsibility
Every person is responsible for their own decisions and choices. If kids are making the right decisions only because they have a program or mommy and daddy to answer to then they will not make it far. Once those outside sources are gone bad decisions will happen again. This is why internal drives are so important. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I also know that if I choose to do the right thing for me then I will be on the right road.

Regan

Integrity

Building Integrity And Becoming More Honest

My life, for the past six months, has been based on developing integrity and becoming stronger with honesty. I love the start of Summits Creed because it applies to what I want to strive for and become. I don’t believe that Summit has done anything for me with this goal. I do believe that I have done this myself.

Integrity, as I see it, is what I do when no one is watching me. This means when I’m not under the supervision and have no one to answer to. Integrity has been hard for me to work on integrity for that very reason. I have been watched almost 24/7 for the past 6 months. I have had a program and a judge to answer to.

My patients and strength has been tested more than anything. I believe that those attributes will feed into my integrity and honesty. I’m in for the long haul at this point. Integrity and honesty have their price that must be paid. I’m learning to have to pay now.