Tahlequah Chick-fil-A Owner Brings Leader Academy to Cookson Hills Students
Three questions about faith, influence and legacy sparked middle school students to name what leadership means to them: service, purpose and integrity.
Redeeming Every Chapter: Vanessa’s Story of Hope
Learning to Cry Again I entered foster care as an infant. I don’t remember much about my early years—but I know they left lasting scars and pain. I moved through several homes before landing with the Johnston family at the age of three. “They taught me how to cry again. Before them, I had stopped…
My Better Song
Lexi’s story I was born to two drug-addicted parents. By my first birthday, I had been in foster care. It wouldn’t be long before I reunited with my mother, but that wouldn’t last long until I was back in foster care again. Despite all the pain, the voice I wanted in my life was my…
Chayde’s Story of Acceptance
My name is Chayde, and I’m in the 9th grade. Before Cookson Hills, I was always getting into all sorts of trouble. I hung out with the wrong crowd and I was constantly getting bullied. It was causing me to have breakdowns every few hours and sometimes every few minutes. I always felt like I…
You are transforming lives through music
You are giving students a musical education that is changing their lives. In the safe space of our music department, students are growing their skills and finding new ways to express their creativity and emotions. Turning heads Lexie came to Cookson Hills with the gift of music, but she struggled with self-confidence. Since joining the…
My Chance to Start Over
Hi. I’m Sidney. I’ve learned a lot in my 18 years of life on earth. But one of the most valuable bits of knowledge that I can share with you is this: There is always a chance to start over, no matter who you are or what you’ve gone through in your life. Life will…
A future and a flame
My name is Eric, and I am originally from Uganda. My family and I came to the United States in 2015. A month before my 13th birthday, my dad told me that I would be going to school. The next thing I knew, I was being dropped off at Cookson Hills. When I first arrived,…
Hope in Horsemanship
One of my favorite activities in the spring is watching the horsemanship demonstrations. Students in the class show off what they have learned over the previous months while working with the horses. I like to sit in the front row so that I can see everything. That’s what I did this spring. The students displayed…
A Totally Different Me
Growing up I did not have a strong mother figure. I was left so many times by my birth mom and she was never fully there mentally. Between prison and drugs, my mom spent very little time with me. When she stopped calling me altogether I took that really hard. I felt I could not…
A year to celebrate
It was the last week of the school year and the campus was abuzz with all the end of the year activities; awards night, band concert, field day, and yearbook signing. I was sitting in my classroom chatting with my yearbook co-advisor after class; in bounced Kaytlin. With a grin from ear to ear, she…
Exactly what I needed: Alec’s Story
My name is Alec, and I am 17 years old. I was born in San Antonio to parents who struggled with addiction. At ten years old, we moved to Oklahoma City because my parents wanted to start over. But addiction took over again, and my little brother and I found ourselves in foster care. During…
Tissues and Chocolate
I was at Cookson Hills for just over a year, and every day I learned something new. I always grew up feeling like something was missing. Growing up in an adopted family was hard for me, personally, I always felt lost. I regularly wondered why my birth mom would just give me up as though…
Handpicked Daughter
I spent most of my childhood being raised by my grandma. My mom gained full custody of me when I was in first grade, but she wasn’t really able to take care of me because she became sick with congenital heart disease. I spent several unsettled years being tossed around to different places to be…
Not Too Good For This “Jesus Thing”
Let me be clear – the reason I am a student at Cookson Hills is all me. I was an egotistical jerk who only cared about himself.
A Path to Cookson Hills
People often ask what brings kids to Cookson Hills. Each child’s story is different and unique, but sometimes a child’s path to Cookson Hills begins the day they are born, due to choices made by the adult caregivers in their life. You see, when parents abandon their children, they are bruising an innocent child, inflicting…
Being a Better Me
Before coming to Cookson Hills, I always felt like I was alone. I pushed everyone I loved away and hurt them with my actions and words. At the time, I didn’t realize that I was causing so much pain to my family. Eventually, I hurt them to the point where they don’t know how to…
Confidence through Chaos
To a soul seeking comfort, When I was 14 years old, I saw a counselor. Her church supported Cookson Hills. She recommended Cookson Hills to my father because of the many problems I was going through. One may ask what I was experiencing at 14 that I would need to be sent to a children’s…
Breaking Habits – Investing in Change
I have been at Cookson Hills for almost four years. I was placed at Cookson Hills because over the years I had rebelled against my mom and stolen from her. I also stole small objects from stores and other people. A rift appeared between me and God. I didn’t really pray or talk to Him,…
From Uganda to Oklahoma– Bolton’s Story
I was born in Uganda where I lived for 13 years. My family and I moved to Los Angeles, California when I was barely thirteen. My father’s job didn’t allow him to settle in Los Angeles. He was always moving to different places for work. After a year of living in California, we decided I…
The Lord is Faithful- One Family’s Journey
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” –Hebrews 10:23 The struggles with our daughter, Sonya, started relatively small. First, she had migraines and started to miss days of school and also church, stating that she was too tired or had a headache. She lost interest in learning…
Second Chances
Why I came to Cookson Hills I’ve been enrolled as a student at Cookson Hills twice. The first time I was here, I was 13 years old. I came because I had been refusing to do my schoolwork; I was lying, manipulating and stealing from my parents. The second time I came to Cookson Hills…
A Gentle Grace
When I was 15 years old, I ran away from home. I knew it was a bad choice, even when I was doing it, but I just didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t really want to do the right thing. Eventually, the cops brought me home and everything in every part of my…
My Light in the Darkness
My name is Jaci and I would like to share my story about how God has changed me. I come from a very complicated family background. I was adopted and raised by my older sister, whom I call mom and it just gets more complex from there. I used to go to church when…
My Story of Hope – Dakota
I came to Cookson Hills in 2009, when I was fifteen years old. I had a terrible home environment full of abuse, a broken relationship with my mom, and a long list of step-dads. I was very outspoken and knew what my interests and goals were but there was also a lot of hatred burning…
My Story of Hope – Bri
Prior to Cookson Hills, I didn’t know what it was like to be a part of a healthy family. My mom and dad weren’t able to take care of me. My dad was on drugs, in and out of jail, and my mom was always working. They lived in a messy house, and my…
My Story of Hope – Catreena
Hi, my name is Catreena. As an 8th grader, I shared my story in a blog called, Finding Hope. I have since finished up my freshman year as well as the chapter of my life spent at Cookson Hills. I’d like to share how God has continued to give me opportunities for growth throughout my…
A Path Forward
I thought I would be dead before I turned 18. I had attempted suicide, was dealing with past issues, and couldn’t see a future. That was before I arrived at Cookson Hills in 2000. I was 16 years old, depressed, and had a lot of family issues. Also, a PTSD type disorder had resurfaced…
Launching Into Adulthood – Epi
With summer in full swing, and the 2016-2017 school year just behind us, we interviewed one of our graduating seniors concerning his accomplishments. Epi is known as a student who is reliable, hard-working, and willing to do what needs to be done. Like any other kid, he came to Cookson Hills with his own…
My Story of Hope – Brittany
Before I came to Cookson Hills, I was very closed off. I was defiant and rebellious, and I had no respect for authority. I was confused and hurt; I didn’t know how my life had gone so wrong. When I first came here, things were worse for a while. I was a very angry…
My Story of Hope – Austin
Before I came to Cookson Hills, I didn’t care about anything or anybody. I had been through some rough things during my childhood; always moving back and forth between my mom and dad and in and out of foster care. My family and I didn’t really get along, I skipped school for almost a…
A New Hope, A New Start — Vanessa
My name is Vanessa. I am 17 years old and a senior at Cookson Hills. Some of you may ask, “Why are you at Cookson Hills?” That definitely is not a short story to tell…. It started when I was four years old and my mom died from a heroin overdose. I haven’t seen…
A New Hope, A New Start — Emmeline
I always knew my parents had problems. It was obvious; there wasn’t a conversation that didn’t end in an argument. Some days, my dad would give up and leave. Others, my mom would take us somewhere else for a while. Moving was almost a tradition in our house; we didn’t stay in the same…
A New Hope, A New Start — Cameron
So – this is my story. I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and up until I was 3, I lived with my mom and maybe my stepdad- I don’t really remember. It was scary where I lived. Sometimes I would use the phone to call my Papa and Mema (great grandpa and grandma); they…
A New Hope, A New Start — Ethan
I was adopted at 15 months by my aunt and uncle, whom I call Mom and Dad. Their names will never change for me, I love them. It wasn’t until I was 11 that I shared with a few friends that I had been adopted. But, I was betrayed by those friends and I started…
Learning Through Adversity – Cheyenne
What is adversity? Adversity is the condition of being in unfavorable or distressful circumstances. I’ve been through many unfavorable circumstances in my life: divorced parents, abandonment, physical and sexual abuse, neglect, jealousy, hatred, and I’ve been trapped in my own bitterness towards God. But I’ve learned so much. We often look at the bad…
Together – Video
In Exodus 17, Moses told Joshua to pick men to go out and fight Amalek. While the men fought, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. When Moses held his hands up, Israel prevailed and when his hands were lowered the enemy prevailed. As could be expected, Moses grew weary…
My Story of Gratitude – Gavin
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” That well-known statement has served true throughout many aspects of my life, but a fair share of my struggles were almost too much to bear. When my great grandmother died, I felt as if I was to blame. I smoked two packs that day, and felt miserable…
A Mother’s Journey of Hope
In 2009, our lives were changed by an affair. It was ugly, raw, and it rocked our world. All three of my children suffered, but my son, Jordan, took it the hardest. He was angry and bitter at his father for betraying our family. I asked Jordan not to hate him as we all make…
Lessons from Living in Community
Cookson Hills was my home for almost 4 years. I still remember that first day I arrived. I had just turned 13 and I was a handful. I was constantly disrespectful to authority figures, including my housedad, and I thought I could just make it on my own. I didn’t really want anyone else…
Shaping My Future
Growing up, I moved around a lot. There were many different people in and out of my life, and no one was ever constant. Early in life, I learned to stuff my feelings and not to talk about the things that mattered most. I had no idea what a healthy relationship even looked like.…
Finding Hope
Hi, my name is Catreena. I would like to share a little of my story and talk about the hope that I have found. My life hasn’t been easy, but I’m grateful that God has brought me through. I was born and raised in the state of Kansas. Growing up, I knew a lot…
Life is Like a Ladder
Cookson Hills has been a vitally important part of my life. I decided to represent my time here with a drawing. The ladder in the picture signifies my life. The bottom rung is my past, the middle rung is my time at Cookson Hills, and the top rung is my future. The background colors…
A New Person
Growing up I had a good life. I was raised in the church and I had parents who loved me. But things didn’t stay good for long. When I was 7 or 8, our family was torn apart as my mom packed up her stuff and left. I remember chasing her van down the road,…
A New Direction
Austin’s life was headed in the wrong direction. Each morning, he went to school for a few hours and then left with a group of friends. They spent their spare time using drugs and having a few run-ins with the law. After a year in high school, he still had zero credits to show…
My First 30 Days
Before I came to Cookson Hills, I visited and took a tour. I thought it was amazing! I was excited about the horses and how small the school was. I have always been fascinated with horses – ever since I was a little girl. And I was drawn to the smaller school because I…
Lessons from Horses
Horses are absolutely hilarious. I love them. There is nothing more thrilling than getting on a horse and riding it until you feel like you and the horse are one. It’s an amazing thing than can only be fully known and understood with experience. There are so many things I have learned about myself…
A Chance for Healing
Vanessa was ready for a new start. At the age of 15, she had already experienced countless wounds through sexual and emotional abuse. She had learned to stuff her emotions instead of talking. She was hurting. She needed a way out. That’s when she heard about Cookson Hills. She was interested right away because…
I’m Not Alone
Imagine this: you are in a brand new place with no friends and no idea what will come next. For Marissa, this was her reality when she arrived at Cookson Hills. At first, she was nervous. She knew from her past that making friends can be difficult and she wasn’t sure who she could…
Before and After
Before Cookson Hills, I was a lost and rebellious child. I caused my family lots of emotional pain because of my daily choices. I was hurt as a child, but I didn’t know how to deal with it. I was asking for help in all the wrong ways and turned to the wrong crowds for…
The Maze of Life
Like a maze we make our way through life Focused on money instead of man and wife In the beginning we find our way By the end we’ve gone astray It seems like this maze has no end The strangers you passed, you once called friends Maybe finding the way out isn’t the key…
