Myles Fredson's story
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Some of the craziest times of my life. It's crazy
how subconsciously my mind has blocked most of it out but reading everyone's
stories takes me right back. I can never forget some of the terrible things I
witnessed and went through. I hope all of the Casa students were able to take
some good away from the program as hard as it was to go through it all. I
remember my case worker Elsa telling me to try to look at it like a vacation.
"Look around you Myles, you're in Mexico! It's beautiful here", she
would say. All I saw was the high walls surrounding me when I wasn't looking at
the back of the head of the next shortest guy in my "family". I loved
the nights the best. Looking up to the stars and imagining for a second that I
was somewhere else in the world. Or laying in bed and closing my eyes and
letting my dreams take me outside those walls for the night. I loved the few
times that it would rain because it would reminded me of being back home in the
Wash! I am a stronger person because of CASA but I wouldn't wish what we had to
go through on anyone. I'm glad it has since been closed down but I'm also glad
to have been a part of it. CASA and other trials that I had to overcome in my
life are a huge part of what make me the person that I am today, and for that
I'm grateful.