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My name is Angelika Munoz, and I am currently a cadet private at Texas ChalleNGe Academy. I heard about the program from my mother. She and my father told me that they wanted nothing but the best for me, but at first, I wasn’t sure if TCA was the right choice or what was best for me.
Before coming to TCA, I felt as if I was failing as a daughter, a sister and a cousin. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd, failing school, and disrespecting my parents. I knew this would be a life changing opportunity for me, so I decided to come.
Day zero. We arrived at Rice High School to check in, and that was hard for me. I knew I would be saying good-bye for the next five months. But I knew I wanted to be the sister my little brother could look up to and the daughter that would make my parents proud. Soon, we left the high school and were taken to TCA to begin the program.
Living in a bay with twenty one other girls is not easy. I have to remind myself that this is temporary and that I can complete the program. This program is changing me in a good way by turning my bad habits into better ones. We have started doing service to community projects which are a lot of fun. We have done a blood drive and have helped with a school dance at Rice Middle School.
We also have the zero club to motivate us. This means getting no counseling statements. We will get to do more fun things if we stay in this club. And while the food first sucked when I got here, I am getting used to it, and it’s not that bad.
On March 25, we have Family Day, and we will get the chance to be with our families. And I know that there are only 15 more Fridays left until graduation.
When I graduate in June, I have set several goals. I want to go back to high school and graduate with my friends. I want to obtain my license and become an eyelash technician, and I want to buy my dream car, a black Dodge Charger.
When I am twenty, I would like to obtain my real estate license and sell properties and houses. When things get hard here at TCA, I remind myself of these goals, and it gives me the motivation to continue.
If my parents or my mentor, Cynthia, happens to be reading this article, I want them to know that I am doing well and appreciate all the support they are giving me while I complete this challenge.
