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This book is a must-read for anyone who is even remotely considering a reform school for their children.
This is a story about Michele Ulriksen's ordeal of being thrown into Victory Reform school for one year at the age of 16 after a few teenage misadventures. Her account, with names changed to protect the innocent, is a heartbreaking story of juvenile abuse, terror, the destruction of self-respect and self-discipline, and blatant, constant brainwashing that is an abomination to the religious and secular alike.
Michele attended Christian school from K-8 but asked to be moved into a secular high school to be with her friends. Soon after she began to rebel, to test boundaries and enjoy new things like MTV bands that were unknown to her before high school. Her devout mother and sister and her doubting but impartial father feel that they can no longer control Michele, but her disconnect from her family is what is spurring her bad behavior as she rebels with the support of her best friend and her divorced parents. After getting caught sneaking into her bedroom after a night of heavy drinking, her parents decide that they have no choice but to commit her to a Christian reform school for some re-education. A few days later they tell her that they are all going to the San Diego Wild Animal Park but take her to Victory instead.
After being torn away from her family by male staff members, her first stop was the "Get Right Room," a dark, windowless concrete solitary confinement cell the size of a closet where Christian music or Jerry Falwell sermons were blasted through the door on a small boom box turned up to the point of distortion for hours on end. From there she was partnered with a buddy for 30 days and was never alone during that time. Every day was regiments of prayer, Chapel, overly modest dress, excessive meals to ensure weight gain and lowered self esteem, and routine verbal abuse. The first contact with her family was a 15-minute phone call 90 days into her stay, though Michele eventually overhears Victory staff telling other parents that it would only be 45 days. This was not the only lie told to parents to get them to give up their children for one year.
Michele read her Bible regularly at Victory, and what she eventually learned about religion being a positive, empowered and self-realizing experience from Bible verses that never came up in Chapel made her realize that Victory was not about religion, because religion wasn't necessarily bad--only the manner in which certain verses were harnessed to deliver the abuse doled out in the name of conversion. It is for this reason that this should not be viewed merely as an anti-religion book. Michele learned and acknowledged the benefits of religion as well. She realized the difference between the hateful, ignorant teachings of radicals and the quiet, self-confident peace of true faith. She wondered if she truly was religious, and if all of the other girls were truly born-again when they left Victory or if they were faking to ensure release without extension or return.
As a former Catholic who struggled with these questions for many years, the story conjured up emotions I had long since buried inside me. I remembered the confusion, the want to do the right thing but the doubt and curiosity to keep asking questions while everyone pressured me to concede my quest for understanding. Whatever your personal beliefs, I believe that everyone could benefit from the kind of soul searching that this book facilitates.
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Reform at Victory by Michele Ulriksen
Daniel Henderson, November 15, 2008
This book is a must-read for anyone who is even remotely considering a reform school for their children.This is a story about Michele Ulriksen's ordeal of being thrown into Victory Reform school for one year at the age of 16 after a few teenage misadventures. Her account, with names changed to protect the innocent, is a heartbreaking story of juvenile abuse, terror, the destruction of self-respect and self-discipline, and blatant, constant brainwashing that is an abomination to the religious and secular alike.
Michele attended Christian school from K-8 but asked to be moved into a secular high school to be with her friends. Soon after she began to rebel, to test boundaries and enjoy new things like MTV bands that were unknown to her before high school. Her devout mother and sister and her doubting but impartial father feel that they can no longer control Michele, but her disconnect from her family is what is spurring her bad behavior as she rebels with the support of her best friend and her divorced parents. After getting caught sneaking into her bedroom after a night of heavy drinking, her parents decide that they have no choice but to commit her to a Christian reform school for some re-education. A few days later they tell her that they are all going to the San Diego Wild Animal Park but take her to Victory instead.
After being torn away from her family by male staff members, her first stop was the "Get Right Room," a dark, windowless concrete solitary confinement cell the size of a closet where Christian music or Jerry Falwell sermons were blasted through the door on a small boom box turned up to the point of distortion for hours on end. From there she was partnered with a buddy for 30 days and was never alone during that time. Every day was regiments of prayer, Chapel, overly modest dress, excessive meals to ensure weight gain and lowered self esteem, and routine verbal abuse. The first contact with her family was a 15-minute phone call 90 days into her stay, though Michele eventually overhears Victory staff telling other parents that it would only be 45 days. This was not the only lie told to parents to get them to give up their children for one year.
Michele read her Bible regularly at Victory, and what she eventually learned about religion being a positive, empowered and self-realizing experience from Bible verses that never came up in Chapel made her realize that Victory was not about religion, because religion wasn't necessarily bad--only the manner in which certain verses were harnessed to deliver the abuse doled out in the name of conversion. It is for this reason that this should not be viewed merely as an anti-religion book. Michele learned and acknowledged the benefits of religion as well. She realized the difference between the hateful, ignorant teachings of radicals and the quiet, self-confident peace of true faith. She wondered if she truly was religious, and if all of the other girls were truly born-again when they left Victory or if they were faking to ensure release without extension or return.
As a former Catholic who struggled with these questions for many years, the story conjured up emotions I had long since buried inside me. I remembered the confusion, the want to do the right thing but the doubt and curiosity to keep asking questions while everyone pressured me to concede my quest for understanding. Whatever your personal beliefs, I believe that everyone could benefit from the kind of soul searching that this book facilitates.
(6 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)