HATS OFF TO 73 SUCCESS STORIES

Eighteen-year-old Mary Herlihy could have been just another high
school drop-out on the fast track to nowhere.

"I left spring semester of 1998," she said of her departure from
Arroyo Grande High School. "I was involved with the wrong people,
smoking weed ... hanging out with a rebellious crowd."

But things have changed for Mary, and for the 72 other teens who
graduated from the ChalleNGe program Saturday.

Designed for at-risk youth, ChalleNGe is a 22-week, military-style
program run by the National Guard that uses discipline, academics and
practical life skills to get teens back on track.

When the program began in 1994, only 15 states were signed up. Now 28
states participate, and California joined last August with the
establish-ment of Grizzly ChalleNGe at Camp San Luis Obispo.

Herlihy said she applied to ChalleNGe because she wanted to change her
life.

And the program requires substantial commitment. Nearly half of the
132 teens who signed up didn't make it. Most of the cadets who left
before the program's completion did so because of discipline reasons,
said Maj. Bruce Irwin, director of Grizzly ChalleNGe. Eleven were
removed after testing positive for drugs.

"You look at these 73 kids and where they were 22 weeks ago, how far
they've come and where they are today and you feel pretty good," said
Irwin.

Others obviously felt the same way: The auditorium where the
graduation was held was standing-room only.

"I think morale was pretty good for a lot of us," said Herlihy, who
was the top graduate in her class. "A few cadets couldn't stand it but
stuck with it. One girl's aunt said she wouldn't be able to finish, so
that was her incentive. She ended up learning so much it was awesome."

Awesome would describe Herlihy's own accomplishments.

Like the other cadets, she rose each day at 5:15 a.m. and spent the
next hour and 15 minutes in physical training. After breakfast, she
went to class at 8:30 a.m., and spent the day in academic and
life-skills classes. Late afternoon was the time for drill practice,
and after dinner, there was study hall.

After receiving her general equivalency diploma in October, the teen
completed an internship at the County Office of Education.

The fact that she was pregnant when she entered the program makes her
achievement all the more remarkable.

Herlihy, whose baby is due in March, said that while ChalleNGe
administrators accommodated her physical needs, she was still expected
to complete all aspects of the program, including some physical activity.

Quitting was not an option.

"I didn't enjoy it," she said of the program, "but I learned so much
from it. It ended up being the best experience. It was awesome. I
learned that in order to get what you want out of life you don't do
what you want. And you learn a lot of self-discipline."

Mentors are another essential component of the program, and each cadet
is required to have one. For her mentor, Herlihy chose an old family
friend, Jana Heirendt of Arroyo Grande.

Although Heirendt agreed to take on the responsibility, she was not
initially enthusiastic.

"It was like one more thing. My dad was dying and I have eight kids,"
she said. "I was really busy and had a lot of excuses. I didn't need
to do it, but I'm so glad I did." Heirendt termed the mentorship "a
blessing."

Heirendt said that during the five-month program she saw Herlihy grow
in maturity. The two would meet once a week to talk and spend time
together. At Christmas, Herlihy gave Heirendt a journal. The two both
ended up writing in the book, sharing their feelings with one another.

"I think the hardest thing for Mary is coming to believe in herself,"
said Heirendt. "I guess one of the biggest changes I've seen is her
having gone from really feeling like a failure in some areas to really
believing she's got some real special gifts and has something to offer."

Herlihy's own plan is to begin Allan Hancock College in the fall and
eventually transfer to a university. Her goal is to be a teacher.

"I actually would love to teach English or something liberal arts
oriented for older kids in high school," she said.

Luana Herlihy believes that as a result of ChalleNGe, her daughter can
write her own ticket.