Teens chose to make a change for the better

One Degree at a Time: Devon Harris, center, instructor for a faith-based effort to assist at-risk teen males, talks with Deandre Gaiters, left, and Nick Golden during a break on Wednesday.

Teenagers Nick Golden and Deandre Gaiters readily admit that they have hung out with the wrong crowd of guys in recent years.

Midway through a week-long program called “One Degree at a Time,” Golden said he has a much different attitude now that will help him when he returns to South Aiken High as a junior this month.

“I’m going to disassociate with the friends I used to be around,” he said. “I’m not going to be the same person I was. They will try to bring me back down to where they are, and knowing they would do that surprises me that I ever chose to hang with them in the first place.”

This is the fifth class of its kind in Aiken that has been geared toward young men who have been in the Department of Juvenile Justice system or are considered at risk.

The new Friends of Juvenile Justice organization is the primary sponsor and is funding the $1,000 cost – the first major project that FJJ has been involved with since its inception earlier this year.

Andrew McCaskill, a Christ Central mission executive, spearheaded the effort to start a county chapter of the state organization.

He originally had contacted Devon Harris, director of the Full Circle Refuge of Evans, Ga., about getting involved with this Aiken-based effort two years ago.

Harris’ program focuses in large part on kids lost in the Juvenile Justice system. Harris adapted his class on Devin Robinson’s book “One Degree at a Time,” encouraging teens to take another path.

“Aiken County has 180 to 200 kids (connected) to DJJ,” McCaskill said. “There are very little to no programs to engage these young people and prevent a repeat of negative life styles. We desire to see these young men change and have a bright future.”

When Golden arrived for the first session Monday at Memorial Baptist Church, he expected a boot camp format. Harris has worked with that kind of program, but he offers an alternative structure here.

“We’re not here to break them down physically,” Harris said. “We’re dealing with their choices, and God can come in every day.”

Gaiters, too, took in the negative influences of people around him, saying he got caught in the wrong places at the wrong time.

“I feel like I can help my friends understand that they can get a positive influence, too,” Gaiters  said. “I’ve already started, somewhat, telling them about this program. I’m interested in how he (Harris) is a businessman. That’s influencing me to get into business and do something positive.”

The other sponsors of the program include Christ Central, Memorial Baptist Church, Community Bible Church, Grace Brethren Church, Bel-Ridge Baptist Church and the Aiken County DJJ.

Contact Rob Novit at 644-2391.