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A Singular Challenge, A Second Chance
Youth Program Helps County Teen Get Back on Track
by Jenny Jones
Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA
September 30, 2008
HARRISONBURG - Ever since he started high school, 17-year-old Jaysen Bennington has had a difficult time focusing on academics.
The Spotswood High School sophomore often brushed off his homework and instead spent time watching television and playing video games.
Because of those bad habits, Bennington was about two years behind in school and wasn't on track to graduate. He thought about dropping out.
"I wasn't doing too good in high school," said Bennington, the son of Gary and Carolyn Bennington of Mount Crawford. "My dad was kind of disappointed with me for not getting into the high school homework. ... I just didn't feel like doing it."
But when Bennington began thinking about his future, he knew he needed an education and greater self-discipline if he wanted to achieve his goals of owning a business and becoming a volunteer firefighter.
That's when Bennington heard about Commonwealth ChalleNGe, an intense military-like program that helps at-risk youth become responsible citizens by providing education and skills training.
Dedicated to turning his life around, Bennington enrolled in the program. Now, he's about halfway through the residential camp and working toward earning a General Education Diploma.
About The Challenge
Commonwealth ChalleNGe formed in 1994 as the Virginia segment of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, which has 34 academies in 29 states across the nation.
The Virginia National Guard organizes Commonwealth ChalleNGe at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. It includes a 22-week quasi-military residential phase and a 12-month post-residential phase.
The program is government funded, with 60 percent of the funding coming from the federal government and 40 percent coming from the state. Students attend free of charge.
Commonwealth ChalleNGe serves 16- to 18-year-olds in Virginia, who are drug-free and have not been convicted of any felonies. Candidates need not be enrolled in school to attend the program.
The program's goal is to encourage young people to become productive members of society, said retired Marine Corps Col. Thomas Early, director of Commonwealth ChalleNGe.
Students in the academy learn everything from life skills, such as ironing and cleaning, to basic high school academics, including English, math, computers and science. They also have mentors who help them stay on track.
"It's all centered on trying to get a GED," Early said. "They have to kind of want a second chance in life."
Drill Sergeants Greet Students
While he's made it through the first half of the Commonwealth ChalleNGe residential component, Bennington said it hasn't been easy.
When he arrived at the camp 11 weeks ago, Bennington said he and other students were met by yelling drill sergeants, a telling start to the program.
The first two weeks after that, known as "hardcore," included a lot of physical activity and military-style training. The students were issued uniforms and given platoon and barracks assignments.
Soon after arriving, Bennington said, he got homesick and questioned whether he was cut out for the program. He wasn't confident he could make it through.
After the first couple of weeks, Bennington says, things relaxed and he got used to the routine, which entails getting up at 5:30 each morning and spending the day cleaning the barracks, exercising and studying.
"I'm really proud of myself for making it halfway through," said Bennington, who hopes to attend Blue Ridge Community College and eventually James Madison University. "I'm enjoying it, for the most part."
Bennington's dad, Gary, said he's proud of his son and the goals he's set for himself, especially his plan to attend college.
"I'm just pleased with the accomplishments he's made so far," Gary Bennington said. "The bottom line is he has goals that he didn't have before. ... He's taking pride in what he's doing now."
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