Wisconsin Life

Joey Smith feels comfortable at home.

Joey

This is one of my best gardens I've ever done.

Angela

But that wasn't always the case. When he was in high school, his home life was so chaotic, Joey ended up in Tomah at the Challenge Academy, a six-month reform school put on by the Wisconsin National Guard. Before the Challenge Academy, I was always hesitant. I wasn't a go-getter.

in adolescent voice

Angela

I'm going to try and stick it out till the end. It was a last chance program to get his life back on course with a little military-style discipline.

yelling

Angela

Let's go, men, march! I think before I came here, I was kinda' slouchy and kind of lazy. Joey graduated with the confidence to chart his own course. I guess you could say, it helped me realize my inner potential. After the Academy, I'm like, I could do anything. He moved out west to find work.

Joey

I lived out in North Dakota. I lived out in Wyoming. I got homesick. I had to come back.

Angela

One day at lunch, a co-worker was talking about his son.

Joey Smith

Having real problems with my son, He's just not listening. He's failing in school.

Angela

Joey had some advice. I was a lot like your son, and I went to the Challenge program, and it made me a better person. About a month later,

chuckles

Angela

he's asking me if I want to be the mentor, and I said, "Well, yeah, sure, maybe it's about time I give back." That brought Joey back to Tomah for the first time since graduation.

Joey

It brought back a lotta warm fuzzy feelings.

cadets call out response in unison

Joey

It's been 13 years, but as soon as the first day that I came back and did my mentor training, a lot things just clicked. It was like, "Wow, I remember marching down that street," or, "Wow, I remember doing push-ups over there."

Angela

And now, Joey is working with Jake.

These are the guys who I live with. - Joey

Yep. I see a lot of me in Jake. And that's why I love being his mentor. That's a younger me.

Angela

As a mentor, Joey's job is just to be there for Jake. We kinda gauge each other, it's goes in hand-in-hand. And, right now, as we stand, we're best of buds.

laughing together

Angela

We're clicking, and I love it. He's a good kid. He's got a really good heart. He's got a really good head on his shoulders. To measure his journey, Joey simply has to see how far he's come.

Instructor

Whatever role you're in in life now--

Joey

It feels good to give back.

Instructor

A kid that's totally looked up to.

Joey

The Academy's done a lot for me. That's awesome! It's good seeing you too, Sir. Having all my instructors come up to me and shake my hand, and tell me, "Wow, you've grown up. You're doing great."

Jake

Hey, Joey?

Joey

I'm ready. That's a feeling of self-accomplishment.