Courtney's Story

Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of our youth and families. The story below reflects real outcomes from real participants in our programs.

“Teen Court taught me to advocate for others — now I’m becoming a lawyer.”

A Voice She Didn’t Know She Had

Courtney came to Reach For Youth at fourteen, after a fight at school led to a suspension and a referral to The Circle. She was quiet at intake. Smart, but withdrawn. The kind of student who answered every question with a shrug.

What her case manager noticed first was how carefully she listened. When the facilitator asked Courtney what had happened that day in the hallway, she didn’t make excuses. She told the truth. And when the person she had hurt spoke about how scared they had felt, Courtney cried.

Sitting on the Other Side

After completing her own case, Courtney was invited to train as a peer juror. Suddenly the quiet girl had a microphone — and a question to ask. She asked it carefully. She asked it again. She learned how to listen for what young people were really saying underneath the words.

“The first time I sat on the jury, I realized this is what I want to do with my life,” Courtney said. “Not punish people. Help them say what they actually mean.”

A Path Forward

Courtney spent three years volunteering with The Circle. She graduated near the top of her class and earned a scholarship to study political science. Today she’s in her second year of law school, focused on juvenile justice reform. She still calls her old RFY case manager when she has a hard week.

“Reach For Youth gave me a voice. Now I get to spend my career using it for other people.”