Alumni Questionnaire ← Back to Index
Jennifer Fleury (Hoellerich):
What is your name?
Jennifer Fleury (Hoellerich)
To which institutions were you sent?
Both Escuela Caribe and Marion
How old were you?
16 years old
When were you enrolled in The Program?
8/1996-12/1997
What was the highest level you attained?
4th level
Please describe the circumstances that got you sent to The Program:
Mostly issues with my parents. We fought all the time. I had no interest in school, only hanging with my friends, smoked pot and drank some, very involved with my friends, no motivation, bad influence on my younger brothers and sister.
In which house(s) did you live?
TKB and Starr House in the DR, Both girls houses in Marion-- I don't remember the names, I was only there a very short time.
Please describe instances of abuse you experienced while in the program, if any:
In Marion it was more mental/verbal abuse-- the housefathers and staff yelled a lot, were very degrading. One house father of a boys house pushed me up against a tree, holding his body against me.
In the DR the abuse was not only verbal, but physical. As punishment I had to do excersices till I threw up. I was given swats on a couple occasions. Once the swats were so harsh the skin on my butt not only bruised, but turned to blood blisters and split open. A couple girls approached our housemother in tears about how bad it was; the man who gave them to me heard about it and made jokes about it. Another time I was in trouble a bunch of men stood in a circle around me taking turns yelling at me and pushing me back and forth. I was constantly told my family didn't want me. During one of these punishment sessions I was mocked at having the experience of a good friend die during high school, anything and everything was said to be hurtful. I also experienced horrible allergy problems, my tounge would swell so bad I would have trouble breathing. I was not allowed to discuss it with my parents on phone calls. I would have to bang on my housefathers door for help because the doors were chained shut at night. I often prayed God would just let me die while I slept.Describe abuse of other students you witnessed, if any:
I saw girls chained to their beds at night and forced to wet the bed they slept in because of they were suicidal, I saw a couple guys badly beaten. Both girls and guys locked in the quiet room, including myself. I knew of staff members sleeping with students, homosexual relations, and so on.
Do you have any good memories of The Program? If so, what are they?
A couple of god friendships made. A beautiful country.
What is your overall impression of The Program? Did it “help you”?
It motivated me to get through my school work. It made me a very angry person, and think of my relationships with my family very differently. My last weekend there my father came for a parent visit. The director told my dad he was recommending I stay another 6 months or so because they hadn't seen a lot of changing in me. Luckily my dad didn't buy into it and took me home that day. The director told me he would be holding a bed because he knew I would be back. What an asshole.
What do you think of the quality of education you received?
Horrible. There was no teaching, no help available, it was all self study. Mostly I read books to count for all english credits. Once I finished high school, I was still in the program, but had nothing to do, so I was told to sit in the hallway, or sometimes vaccuum. The staff at Marion did not recommend I go to a regular college, like I couldn't do it. Later I did attended college, and graduated with honors.
How old are you today?
26 years old
Did you go to college after attending The Program? If so, what degrees do you have?
Yes, graduated with a BA in Management
What is your profession?
I manage a samll business in Chicago.
Do you consider yourself a Christian today?
yes
What effect did “The Program” have on your faith?
It made me questions God's existence; I felt it mocked Christianity by calling itself a Christian school. The ethics at this place were horrible.
Please feel free to add comments here:
A few of my closest friends from the program have not been able to survive in society. They came home so angry and so messed up from their experiences in the program, they have never been able to get on track.
