The ALP student that we serve may have once led a remarkable life but now acts “entitled”, self-centered, lazy, disrespects authority (especially parental authority), and thinks that the world owes him/her everything. For the most part, our students have loving, caring, and committed parents who have sacrificed to provide them with everything they need to lead powerful lives. Yet, these children are not appreciative, and are very ungrateful. It seems that nothing is ever enough, and they are always wanting more without earning it.

The classic ALP student is bright, intelligent, gifted, loved and cared for by their parents. They may also have been exposed to strong Christian values (raised in the church), protected, and given an excellent educational opportunity. Basically, our students are good kids from good families who are committed and dedicated to their children in every way. Unfortunately, the typical ALP student candidate has been transformed into someone who is self-absorbed, blatantly dishonest, seeks acceptance from negative peers, and often thinks his/her parents are retarded. This student demands independence and adult-like liberties, yet acts immaturely and makes decisions that are detrimental to his/her future (i.e.; experimenting with sex, viewing pornography, experimenting with drugs and alcohol*, sneaking out of the house at night, posting extremely inappropriate material on websites such as My Space, and blatantly defies the family rules).

*We are able to work with kids who have “experimented” with drugs and alcohol, and have substance abuse issues.  However, we are not able to work with kids who have chemical dependency issues.

In addition, Abundant Life Preparatory is an emotional and spiritual growth program. We are not equipped to work with kids who are dealing with acute mental health issues (i.e., self harm, psychosis, psychotic episodes, personality disorders, severe depression, etc). Abundant Life Preparatory is not in a position to work with children who have a history of violence (criminal history), sexual perversion (sexual assault), or any other severe deviant behavior.  There are many good therapeutic programs available for child with such severe issues, but ALP is not one of them.

The behavior of the typical troubled teen that Abundant Life Preparatory serves is accurately defined as “out of control” behavior. He, or she, is making decisions that are detrimental to their future, as well as the future of others.  This is a teenager who just wants to have fun, and often views his/her parents as “being in the way”.  They live in a fantasy-based world and have no idea of how their poor decisions are going to negatively affect their future. They live as if there is no tomorrow. Plus, these teens are very unhappy due to the poor decisions they make and are looking for fulfillment in things that will never deliver. They are unhappy because they know better, but instead of making fundamental changes in their personal lives, they often lash out at their parents in anger. They blame, justify, and play the victim. Why? Because they are emotionally immature! They know they hurt but refuse the correction. They live for having fun, and are repelled by accountability. It is easier to blame others than to take responsibility for their own poor choices.

Our students are disrespectful toward their parents, yet may submit to some adult authority outside the home. This proves that the ALP student knows right from wrong. They often know how to act correctly in front non-families members, but back home, behind close doors, they act like complete monsters. The typical ALP student is an expert at rationalizing. Their wacky arguments can be exhausting and are hard to contend with because they can “sound” so convincing. This teen can easily triangulate their parents by pitting one against the other (there are usually two types of parents involved in creating the “troubled teen” . . . one, a “rescuer” who does not hold the child accountable, and two, the “bad” guy who is forced to make up for the other parent’s rescue [lets the child off the hook]).

Prior to enrollment, the Abundant Life Preparatory student created a great deal of adversity in their life, which was the consequence of their own poor choices. They faced these adverse challenges and life stressors without the inner emotional support to deal with it. Their poor choices created havoc, but their emotional capacity could not handle it. During their stay with Abundant Life Preparatory, the opportunity is given day by day for the student to come to understand their self more clearly. They are taught the importance of personal choices and decisions and how they affect one’s own life positively or negatively.