This is a letter by a past student, written to the program a few weeks after she graduated in 2022.
Dear WinGate,
I don't know who will receive this, but if you don't know me, my name is ***** and I just graduated WinGate this December. If you remember me, hi, I miss you! I'm writing this to say thank you, because this experience changed my life. It was so hard to leave, and I even tried not to (lol). When I got to WinGate, I was angry, hurt, uncomfortable with myself, depressed, selfish, and hopeless. I hated my family and prioritized people who didn't care about me, I was obsessed with drugs, appearance, sex, partying, money, and validation above all- I cared about nothing else. I would feel no guilt when I hurt people who cared about me, and I was OK with the life I was living because I didn't think I would be living it for much longer. From my first day, your staff and students welcomed me, encouraged me, showed me genuine love and respect I thought I didn't deserve, and treated me as nothing less than an equal despite my many mistakes. You were patient, nurturing, and straightforward. I was pushed out of my comfort zone physically and emotionally everyday, and I learned to embrace that, learning the skill of adapting and adjusting. I was torn away from everything I thought I needed, from mirrors, to makeup, to a warm bed, to instant gratification, and I quickly learned I didn't need any of it. Humans are meant to thrive in simplicity. I actually learned just how much easier it was without these things. I was taught how to direct the never-ending focus I put on material things and apply that drive to my character and well-being, and that is when I became truly happy. I let down my tough exterior and let people see the real me, the one I had just found, some parts recovered and some newly gained. I let my peers and family love me, and in return I was able to love them. The list of things WinGate pushed me to explore about myself goes on and on, and I couldn't be more grateful to you guys.
Love, *****
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