My Story

December 8th, 2006 was the best day of my life, only I did not know it at the time. Before that date I was leading a life that was not beneficial to me at all. I was going down a path that was not my soul path. When I was about to go to jail, my mother thought it was a good chance to send me away to a program instead of me going to jail for three to six months. Without me knowing my mother had two men who I had never met in my life come and pick me up from my home at 4:58 am. I went to Eagle’s Nest School.

When I arrived I was angry and I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I was defiant and I didn’t want anything to do with Eagle’s Nest. A man named Bill Dean met me when I arrived. He held out his hand for a handshake and I shook his hand and then he hugged me. I would be defiant for one more month and not want to do any healing on myself. Then I finally warmed up to the program and I loved it.

On my four month mark I became 100% committed to my healing. I have been here for seven months roughly and healing is the most important thing in my life today. I work with Hossca on a weekly basis and he assists me to heal. My experience with the staff and the other teens here at Eagle’s Nest has been a huge benefit to me in my life. I will take Eagle’s Nest with me for the rest of my life and I will continue to heal my issues throughout my life until they are all healed. This has been a great foundation to me and allowed me to heal my biggest wounds; I will continue to do this healing process until I no longer have any wounds.

Eagle’s Nest has also helped me realize my soul path in life, meaning what I am supposed to do. I am supposed to assist others to heal as well. My life goal is to assist others to begin their healing and realize the truth about themselves.

-Zach Stauffer, 17 years old
Seven Month student

"I am 17 years old and from Tempe, Arizona. Before I came to Eagle's Nest School, I had many problems. I lived in Las Vegas with my mom and got involved with drugs in late 2002. My mother had drug issues, including prescription pain pills and I had many issues surrounding my mother.

Around 2004, I got started on harder drugs, such as methamphetamines and cocaine. My quality of life greatly went down hill and I started having sex with girls I barely knew. I started an illegal job of scalping tickets for shows on the Las Vegas Strip to pay for my drug habit. I also got started in some gang activity. I even overdosed and had to be rushed to the hospital because my heart stopped and lungs stopped functioning. I was arrested at school for carrying drugs on me. Basically I was well on my way to a very destructive life.

My mother died of an overdose of morphine on August 3, 2006, and I found her dead in her room on her bed. I then had to move to Tempe to live with my father. Things went good for a while, then I got started back doing drugs and having sex. I was first sent away to a wilderness program called SUWS in Idaho. This place helped me somewhat, but it didn't dig deep down to the core issues.

I then came to Eagle's Nest School where the real work began. I started working on healing issues around my mom and dad, drugs, and myself. I graduated High School, took my SAT, and even got started on college classes which I never dreamed would ever happen! My relationship with my parents is better than ever, and I am the happiest I have been in my entire life.

Thanks to Bill Dean, Hossca Harrison, the Eagle's Nest Staff, and my parents for assisting and supporting me, and me doing the work, I am on my way to a bright future of helping others as a Drug Counselor and living a full and happy life."