Our House e-newsletter May 2012 | Page 14

Cover Story: 3 Alumni Profiles, pages 4 to 19 “When I first came here, I thought I was somewhere that seemed fun, someplace that you’d really want to be. There were a lot of kids here, and they got along pretty well.” Morrison may not be able to recall the difficulty he had adjusting after he moved into Our House in 2008, but he does know that “I was confused, but now I’m really happy.” At age 7, Morrison’s trouble dealing with his anger and confusion about his situation often led to disruptions in Our Club. He remembers lots of one-on-one time with Mindy Shelby, Director of Youth Programs, and Shelia Bradford, a frequent Our Club volunteer, who both always recognized Morrison’s kind and gentle personality hidden behind the angry outbursts. The stability of Our House, the non-judgmental children who lived with him in the Family House, and his mom’s boyfriend, who is like a second dad, have helped Morrison learn how to handle difficult feelings. “ ” Now, at 11 years old, he has not only made it through that rough time but has come away from it as an amazing kid who is always thoughtful and supportive of others. Last year during Our House’s summer youth continued on page 16 Photo: Morrison & big brother Michael release some after-school energy with flying somersaults on their backyard trampoline.