CJ
I'm unbelievably grateful for the ALC being a program. I honestly think it kept me going through high school.
I'm now a national contractor with Marriot Hotels that travels around with a few guys all around the country.
Tyler
Joining the ALC was one of the most important decisions I have ever made. ALC gets a bad wrap because of basic stereotyping of having "bad kids" or "troubled kids." It was none of those. I was a 4 sport athlete in high school and captain of the baseball team. I always struggled with academics. No matter how hard I tried, I always fell a little short. Joining the ALC was great for me as a student and a person. I learned different types of studying patterns and getting more one-on-one with my teachers helped me excel.
After graduating HS in 2007 I joined the US Navy, which I served for 4 years. While in the Navy I was stationed on board USS Nimitz, home port in San Diego for 2 years and Washington State for 2 years. While on board I did a deployment to the Middle East from July 2009-March 2010. A year and a half later, I volunteered for a program called “IA” or Individual Augmentee. During this program I was apart of Joint Special Operations Command. I served a deployment that lasted 7 months in Kandahar Afghanistan. All in all, during my military career I went to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Bahrain, Thailand, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Germany, and Afghanistan,
Post Navy I graduated from Everett Community College with an associate in Arts and Science degree. I graduated with High Distinction. Now, I am a Field Service Engineer for a medical device company that Forbes named One of the top 100 small businesses to work for in the United States. I am married and have 2 kids. My family and I live in a small suburb of Portland Oregon.
P.S.
The graduating ALC class of 2007 had the best dodgeball team that has ever gone through the school district of New Richmond.
Kristin
Prior to my acceptance into the ALC my junior year my parents weren't so ecstatic about it. I was not quite as successful as others in my graduating class for whatever reason. But still to this day, 6 years later, I still bring up that if it weren't for being in the ALC, I wouldn't have graduated on time with my class. Honestly, I would have dropped out. The ALC helped me in so many ways I can't even think of where to start. The ALC was a family away from my family, and I loved the friendships that were made during the time I was there.
Since graduation, I did the college thing 3 TIMES for 3 DIFFERENT degrees and none of them stuck! But as of late, an opportunity came across my life, and I'm going to give it a shot. You can't catch fish if you don't go fishing, right?? I went in for orientation, they called me back within TWO hours wanting an interview. I am the newest employee of American Income Life and am currently studying to take my state exam to receive my Certificate of Authority and my License to Sell Life Insurance. This job will easily make a career out of itself and I can't wait to get started!
Being a part of the ALC made me cherish the little things in life so much more. My teachers were absolutely great, and I wish I had longer with them, 2 years just wasn't enough!!!
Cheyeanne
I'm still working at a nursing home, going on my 8th year. Im a CNA with my medication certification, and I work with dementia residents. My job takes a lot of patience and understanding, which I didn't have prior to entering the ALC...Lol. I plan on going to school for nursing.
Kaila
High school is probably one of the hardest times we go through as young people, and I was so glad I had the opportunity to modify the way I made it through. Since high school I graduated with an associate's degree in occupational therapy as an OT assistant at WITC and have been doing that for 5 years. I worked in Oregon and New Mexico in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Then, I came back to MN in 2013 to pursue a graduate degree in occupational therapy. I completed my undergraduate degree in occupational sciences and was accepted into the Masters of Occupational Therapy program in at St Catherine University in 2015. I will graduate in may 2018.
I think about my ALC teachers all the time and am thankful to them for being so patient and accepting of us as kids
Victoria
Thanks to the ALC I found my very best friend; Brianna. We have been best friends for 10 years now, and she is my maid-of-honor for my upcoming wedding! The ALC was always a fun, friendly and family-type environment. The teachers and your co-students were always your #1 support team, whether you needed help understanding a subject, a project, or even a shoulder to cry on. I never knew teachers who could actually make learning fun! They would question you about your opinions on the topics, they would make you laugh, and actually retain the information because they made the subject interesting. This amazing group of people would be there by your side to help you succeed, understand and brighten your day! Without the support from my incredible ALC teachers I would've probably never gained the confidence to become successful or the confidence to follow my dreams. With the skills they taught me I was able to successfully graduate, not only from high school but from the Minnesota School of Cosmetology and the International Dermal Institute in Minneapolis. I worked in the hair and beauty industry for 2 years as a professional hair and make-up artist. I didn't love it though. I felt I wasn't making the impact I wanted to make on others. I wanted to build their confidence in a more natural way. I am now the lead skin care specialist (esthetician). I help individuals not only look their best naturally but feel their best and build their confidence! I have a high request clientele and love what I do for my career. I am very proud of how far I have come in my life, and I truly believe that my success, my confidence, my appreciation for education and my now consistent want to learn new things all started the very first day I walked into the New Richmond ALC program. Thanks to my ALC teachers and all my fellow ALC students. I couldn't have ever made it this far without them.
Craig
I'm with the MN labor union. I've been getting paid to do training in Lino Lakes. I'm about to be making $29 an hour doing some asbestos work. I already have a supervisor card, and I just need a little more on the job training to actually be a supervisor.
Kaity
When I first brought up to my dad that I thought I should join the ALC he instantly said "no". Most of my family are used to traditional alternative schools, but the ALC is different. The teachers had different teaching styles that actually pulled me in, and I started to get better grades. I was so proud of myself. I even ended up graduating with a 4.0 at the end of my senior year. I honestly don't know if I would have graduated on time without the ALC, and I know I definitely wouldn't be where I am now without the guidance I got. If it wasn't for the ALC I wouldn't have quit my party faze and wouldn't have made it through the loss of my brother and mother. I was able to cope with it other ways. I am currently expecting a baby boy in July and am about to graduate with my associates in criminal justice and will be going back for my emergency management degree in August. I hope to help clean up natural disasters after graduation.