Your Stories
Fifteen is an exciting time for most kids. Yet it’s also the average age of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Positive, caring adults can help get them back on track.
People from our community are sharing their stories about how an adult made a difference when they were kids. These real life stories show how even a small act of encouragement can make a big difference in a kid's life.
Read what these people have to say about when they were 15:
Note: Names of any individuals mention in the stories below were supplied by the writers. The When You Were 15 Campaign and its participating partner organizations have no information about the accuracy of the names used or the identities of the individuals described by the writers in these stories.
- Marie Austin, "When I Was 15"
- Bob Coghill, "Who Was That Man?"
- Carol Northamer, "My Young Life"
- Elizabeth Winkler, "Because of Him"
- Shirley Tuzroyluke, "Grandma, we who are your children"
- Michael Kerosky, "At 15"
- Chris Aquino, "In and Out of the Dojo"
- Anonymous, "Coping: The Trials and Triumphs of a High School Geek"
- Kathy Day, "High School"
- Ruth Schoenleben, "My Path"
- Brian Petrilla, "Age 15 And Off To A Terrible Start..."
- Stan Mayra, "Living in the Butte"
- Master William Hitchcock, "When I Was 15"
- Brian Walker, "When I Was Young"
- Rob Mailander, "At Fifteen"
- Löki Tobin, "Dome In Nome"
- Glo, "Self-Appointed Tribal foster parents gave me a home"
- Heather Coulehan, "Spelunking into the Woman I Am Today"
Tell Us Your Story
Maybe it was a coach who never let you miss practice, or your aunt who was there just to listen. It may have been a seemingly small act, yet it made a big impact on you today. Who made the difference for you?
Note: By submitting your story, you certify that you understand and abide by the following:
- Reclaiming Futures Anchorage may publish your story, in part or in full on the “When You Were 15” website, or in a print anthology. As the author, all other rights belong to you.
- Reclaiming Futures may also share this story, in part or in full, with the media and republish it in other public educational and outreach materials.
- Reclaiming Futures may edit your story for grammar or space considerations.
- Contact information (a phone number or email address) is required – but if you would like your story published anonymously or with your initials only, please let us know when you submit it.
- If you are under 18, we need a parent or legal guardian to agree to these terms. Please include that person’s name, initial and last name, phone number and/or email address where we can reach them.
You can cut and paste your story from another document into this form by highlighting the text and using the Ctrl and C keys to copy and then the Ctrl and P keys to paste into the different boxes below.
