Kayla is graduating in August and we couldn’t be more proud of the lovely woman she has grown into. Here is her story of how she came to Boise Girls Academy and the things God has taught her while here in the program:
“ I lived in a good household but I didn’t really care about anything or anybody else. I was going to make my own choices but I was headed down a destructive path. A bad boyfriend, drugs, alcohol, using a trap phone . . . you know, all the things I wasn’t supposed to be doing.
Eventually things got pretty bad and I realized I needed help and something needed to change so I asked my dad for help. I told him if I didn’t get help and make a change, my life was headed down a bad path. My parents knew some friends in Idaho so they decided to place me in BGA’s care. I knew I was going to a boarding school but I didn’t know the details of where or when.
I arrived on July 1, 2024 ready to make a change, but not really sure what to expect or what the program really entailed. That first parent weekend in October is where I noticed things starting to turn in my heart. My parents came and I didn’t want to tell them all the details of everything that really happened in my life. I was crying hysterically and crying out to God about coming clean to them about the depths of my secret life. I knew I needed to, but I wasn’t ready for their reaction. I cried out to God, ‘If I just did the right thing by coming clean, then give me peace about it!’ Two seconds later, I had complete peace and stopped crying. I knew at that moment God was with me, really loved me and He was going to help me through this process. I kept growing closer and stronger to God and my family.
In April 2025, I got a home pass and went on a family vacation to Disneyland with my family. It was the first time my mom told me she saw a true change in me and felt loved by me. That made my heart so happy and I wanted to continue that momentum of healing in our family. In May, I started growing closer with my older brother and my siblings saw a change in me too. I was able to graduate an entire year early thanks to BGA keeping me on track academically and now I look forward to my future.
BGA gave me the time and space to work on myself and my family relationships. I’ve been able to stay sober for 15 months now, my anxiety and depression are now gone, I’ve healed from past trauma and I have built a beautiful trust and relationship with my parents again.
Boise Girls Academy absolutely changed the trajectory of my family as we are going to live permanently in Idaho for now and are all growing closer to the Lord. I look forward to my future! It was time well spent and beneficial.”
