Student goes from life of crime to top 10 in classMark Cabrera among 23 students honored for turning lives around By Warren Wise (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, May 9, 2008
By his 16th birthday, Mark Cabrera had not been so sweet. He carried a knife to school, got caught with drugs, skipped classes, broke into a shed and stole a car, jewelry and reptiles at different times. Video
Joshua Mark Cabrera was one of 23 Berkeley County School District students honored by the district with a Turnaround Achievement Award. Watch » He was becoming an alcoholic and was getting high on drugs. He was angry and rebellious. He thought he could make more money selling drugs than he could completing an education. He was in and out of juvenile and criminal courts. His life was a mess. For violating probation after being caught with marijuana, the Stratford High School ninth-grader served 43 days at Coastal Evaluation Center. That's where he began to turn his life around. On Thursday, he was one of 23 Berkeley County School District students honored by the district with a Turnaround Achievement Award. All of the students, either on their own or under the guidance of a parent, a teacher or someone else, chose to change their lives from being disruptive and unruly to being more cooperative and productive. Some are now on the honor rolls at their schools. Cabrera did it after finding God while in the evaluation center. "A preacher came there thumping the Bible and spitting and yelling," he said. 
Brad Nettles Mark Cabrera is all smiles after being named Goose Creek High School Student Turnaround Award winner Thursday. The 20-year-old had his mom, Becky McElfresh, and nephew, Braden Brewer, at the event along with other family members. Cabrera says his turnaround happened when he turned his life over to Jesus while he served time at the Coastal Evaluation Center. The minister left some literature, and Cabrera started reading the Bible and said a sinner's prayer that if you believe in God and Jesus that you can repent and be forgiven. He left the evaluation center and backslid a few times before realizing his life was going nowhere fast. "I was living in destruction," he said. "I made a lot of bad friends and made a lot of bad decisions." Cabrera had been in high school two years and had no credits, but slowly he turned his life around by changing schools and going to church. At 20 years of age and after six years in high school, Cabrera will graduate this year as one of the top 10 students at Goose Creek High School, where he transferred to complete his education. He now has a part-time clerical job and wants to attend Full Sail University in Florida to study music and graphics, but he doesn't have the money. He's thinking about going to Trident Technical College to get a start. "He finally made the decision to stop doing what he was doing," said Pastor David Carey of North Palm Ministry, where Cabrera attends church in North Charleston. "About three years ago, he began to get involved in the church. He has made a remarkable change since that time. He's now leading people to help change their lives." Cabrera quickly added, "I'm trying." His mother, Becky McElfresh of West Ashley, readily admits it was a struggle. "I did a lot of praying," she said. "I never gave up. I'm never going to give up. I'm very proud of him." Everyone makes mistakes that can make life difficult, said Berkeley County School District Superintendent Chester Floyd, but he offered the following advice to all the students: "Be where you are supposed to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing to the best of your ability." Cabrera said he is changed totally and is now doing what he is supposed to be doing. "I'm so ashamed of what I did," he said, "but it's not me anymore." THE WINNERS Berkeley County School District honored 23 students Thursday with Turnaround Achievement Awards. Each did something to change his or her destructive behavior and become better students. Following is a list of the award-winners and their school: Elizabeth Fickett -- Berkeley Intermediate Ty-Shakur Jones -- J.K. Gourdin Elementary Jabaari Ferguson -- Whitesville Elementary John Seibel -- Berkeley Alternative Essie Crittenden -- Berkeley Middle Davontay Grant -- Cainhoy Elementary/Middle Jimmy Ritchie -- College Park Middle Maurice Grant -- Daniel Island School Chris Cao -- Hanahan Middle Chelsi Ham -- Macedonia Middle Shaquille Bibbs -- St. Stephen Middle Carrie Jefferis -- Sangaree Middle Tiaheisha Daniels -- Sedgefield Middle Kenneth Bryant -- Westview Middle Candace Smith -- Berkeley Alternative Anthony Williams -- Berkeley High Tysheem Gavin -- Cross High Rasheem Gavin -- Cross High Mark Cabrera -- Goose Creek High Jimmy White -- Hanahan High Chelsea Sponsler -- Stratford High Jarquan Wright -- Stratford High Jimmy Lail -- Timberland High Reach Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 28 comment(s)
Posted by BillytheKid on May 9, 2008 at 1:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go foward young men and women, you are out future.
Posted by moonpie on May 9, 2008 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone makes mistakes but you have the power to turn it around.
Posted by BulldogTLC on May 9, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We've all done things that we are not proud of. You have done a remarkable job of turning your life around and should be commended. Continue to strive to be the best person that you can be.
Posted by SCgal on May 9, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats to these young citizens~ may all their dreams come true for them~~
Everyone makes mistakes but you have the power to turn it around.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/seans-b...
http://www.helpingsean.com/
Posted by ChrisPia on May 9, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job! Keep up the Good work.Anything is Possible in Life.Keep achieving.
Posted by Early on May 9, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Similar paths bro, all I can say is keep going and going and the most important thing is,,,believe in yourself!
Posted by ColdBeer on May 9, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Job to everyone that was recognized. Keep moving in the right direction. It DOES pay off in the long run.
Posted by blackkat on May 9, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TO MY CHILD TY-SHAKUR I LOVE YOU BOY .KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ALL OF THE KIDS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.GIRLS AND BOYS KEEP YA HEAD UP.MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
Posted by wpc3iop on May 9, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to all that were recognized...keep up the good work, it will pay off in the long run!
Posted by Chief_SittingBull on May 9, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is great that you were able to turn your life around, Sir. Do you best to stay on the right path. I wish you luck in your future endeavors.
Posted by greyrider on May 9, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks P&C for reporting some good news. Kudos to all who work hard to turn others lives around. If someone you know is on the wrong path, let this be an inspiration to you.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Posted by LowcountryMoose on May 9, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Better keep an eye on this guy. He seems to fit the profile for people who climb their way to a successful life and run a gambling operation from their home. At least the big bag of weed under the bathroom sink won't be his.
Posted by eyfigueroa on May 9, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Buena Suerte young man!
These kids are worthy of our respect, admiration. They are beacons of light for other 'lost' children out there.
It is so easy to throw these kids away. And though some kids cannot be saved, it is imperative to at least try.
KUDOS to those who are featured in this article today and the countless other children who are also desperately trying to turn their lives around.
Posted by CHRISJIII on May 9, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for you Mark!!!!
Posted by Girleygirl on May 9, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck to all the children involved!
Posted by sbs920 on May 9, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LowcountryMoose
Classless !
you should call yourself LowcountryMoron !
Great Work Kids !
Posted by allwoman on May 9, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know a lot of the kids on this list and they deserve the recognition for a job well done. Great job kids and parents as well. Keep up the good work.
Posted by LowcountryMoose on May 9, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sbs920,
Thanks for the compliment. I am just jealous because I never had the opportunity to find God during a 43-day stint at a Department of Juvenile Justice facility during a six-year high school term. Please pray for me.
Posted by JC on May 9, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Impressive! This guy deserves a scholarship if no one else does!
Posted by noname on May 9, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said eyfigueroa.
Congratulations to all!!!!!!
Posted by burton on May 9, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are some mistakes in life that you can recover from. Great story! Good luck young man and when you become successful please make sure you help someone else that is going through what you went through.
Posted by oldglory on May 9, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Late reading, but catching up to y'all!
I add my congrats to all who posted them prior to me. You young people have such backbone! Way to go!
Further, as JC says "Impressive! This guy deserves a scholarship if no one else does!"
blackkat, you and all the parents need to take a bow here! Maybe the young people did the really, really hard stuff, but all parents, friends, neighbors who supported them, survived the anguish!
A welcomed news article with a good ending/beginning!
Posted by UrGatorbait on May 9, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
20 year olds in high school? 6 years? Well some never finish so I suppose 6 years will be the norm soon.
Congrats to those that saw the light and choose to finish their education to get ahead in life.
Good luck
Posted by soul2soul on May 9, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Outstanding and congratulations to all!
Posted by TP on May 9, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give him a few years to get involved in the Florida music scene at the University of Full Sail, lol. He'll be knee-deep in hookers and crack before you know it.
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 9, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how many hoochie mammas he's gotten pregnant so far.
Doesn't he at least have one kid? I'd be willing to bet some (if not all) of the females on that special list above already have a kid or two...or are pregnant right now.
I concur with TP. This won't last long.
Posted by eyfigueroa on May 9, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow! and i do mean wow!
according to tp and geekguy, no one can recover from mistakes. no one can take responsibility for their lives and go on to do great things.
"how many hoochie mama's he's gotten pregnant so far"
hmmm i wonder why so vicious?
Posted by geekguy2008 on May 10, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not called "vicious". It's called statistics and probability.