Sunshine

COVER STORY
CORE VALUE: GROWTH
Growth is something MCH expects from
all youth. While each story is different,
staff members consider it a great achievement
in every case. Denzel, a resident at
the Boys Ranch, is one example.
Denzel came to the Boys Ranch in
July 2009. He was ordered by juvenile
court to spend one year at MCH, and his
outlook on his time at the Home was just
that, time served.
“Denzel was withdrawn when he
came to the Boys Ranch,” said Larry
Slonaker, one of Denzel’s homeparents.
“He acted out, but now he has accepted
the program and what it has to offer.”
When he arrived, Denzel made up
his mind that he was not going to participate
in anything the Home made available
to him. He said he planned to sit in
his room, only to leave when he attended
school. However, Denzel became interested
in playing football.
“Playing football is a privilege at
MCH,” Denzel said. “And football started
to become a passion of mine, so I decided
to work with the program at the Boys
Ranch instead of against it.”
Last year, Denzel played on the
Home’s state champion flag football
team, which competed in a charter school
league. This year, MCH moved to a new
league and made the transition to sixman
tackle football, which gave Denzel
an opportunity to display his talents at
a higher level of competition. Denzel
was named second-team all-state by the
Texas Christian Athletic League (TCAL),
and he was selected to play in the TCAL
all-star game in December.
Larry and his wife, Jeanean, believe
Denzel became interested in participating
in other activities at the Boys Ranch
as he experienced joy and success in
playing football.
Denzel is developing confidence and leadership skills through the opportunities and
relationships he is experiencing as a resident at the Boys Ranch.
“Playing football has helped Denzel
with his confidence,” Larry said. “He has
taken on more of a leadership role in the
home unit and with his peers. He actively
participates in the home unit meetings
and tries to encourage others.”
Jeanean describes Denzel as an attentive
listener and intelligent young
man. She said Denzel was recently recommended
to be the peer mediator for
their home unit. Residents selected as
peer mediators will go through intensive
training to learn how to help their peers
with conflict resolution.
“Denzel is naturally a peer mediator,”
Jeanean said. “He doesn’t do it for
the recognition – he’s usually behind the
scenes. He tries to help his peers work
through whatever is going on.”
Denzel admits he is not perfect and
he slips up from time to time, but he
likes to be supportive and help his peers
when he can.
“They definitely have a peer they
can talk to if they want to,” Denzel said.
“I’m that person for them.”
Jeanean said the confidence Denzel
is gaining at the Boys Ranch is giving
him hope for his future. She said he talks
about possible careers and wants to attend
college on a scholarship.
“I would like to be a family guidance
counselor,” Denzel said. “If I wouldn’t
have come to the Home, I don’t think I
would be in school or have hope for attending
college. The Home has helped me
to grow, and it has provided so many opportunities
for me.”
The Slonakers and other Boys Ranch
staff continually encourage Denzel to
work hard to achieve his goals. Staff
members believe the social work field
would be a good fit for Denzel.
“Most teenagers struggle when they
start thinking about their future plans,”
Jeanean said. “Denzel is on his way to
finding his place in this world.”
8 Sunshine I Winter 2011