ESCAPING A WORLD OF TROUBLE

Drug Court Graduation Ceremony Marks Return From The Brink For Teen

Michelle Foose is the first to admit that a couple of years ago, she was in
a world of trouble.

Just 15 at the time, Foose was already dabbling with marijuana and alcohol,
and abusing prescription medications.

Before long, Foose was expelled from South Rowan High School and, after
running away from home, found herself involved with juvenile court authorities.

"I was a mess," Foose said.

But her life has improved considerably in recent years.

On Friday, Foose, who is now 17, graduated from Rowan County's Juvenile
Drug Treatment Court. The graduation was the sixth involving teenagers in
the program, which is considered a trendsetter in the state.

Court officials said they'd never seen a graduate improve as quickly as Foose.

"I love you, Michelle," said Navonne Moore, a social worker from Samarkane,
a training school in Eagle Springs where Foose lived for a year as part of
her program.

"I love you, too," Foose replied.

The two then hugged, one of many hugs that Foose shared Friday with those
she credited with helping get her life back on track.

"Out of all the kids we've had in the program, you've progressed the
farthest," said Earle Koontz, an attorney who has been involved with the
Juvenile Drug Treatment Court since its inception. "You've got a bright
future. I, for one, am extremely proud of you."

"Thank you for being such a good example to our new participants," Becca
Stamp, coordinator of the Juvenile Drug Treatment Coordinator, told Foose.
"I'm excited about the educational opportunities you've decided to pursue."

There was a twist to Friday's graduation not seen in previous ones. Chief
District Court Judge Charlie Brown, who officiates the Juvenile Drug
Treatment Court, was injured last week in a bicycling accident and is still
recuperating at home.

Though he couldn't be there in person, Brown made sure Friday's graduation
continued as planned. A videotape of Brown -- seated at home with his left
arm in a sling -- was played.

"My inability to attend won't delay the drug court from recognizing
Michelle's hard work," Brown said on the tape. "The whole is greater than
the parts."

Like the other court officials, Brown told Foose that she'd made tremendous
strides since entering the program 21 months ago.

"You're no longer 15 years old with high needs," Brown told Foose. "You now
have tools. The key is to draw on those tools. I'm proud of you."

Brown said that among Foose's accomplishments over the past two years are:

n Completion of her high school General Equivalency Diploma;

n Being named recipient of a scholarship to attend Rowan-Cabarrus Community
College and;

n Enrollment in the school.

"You're a lovable girl, Michelle," said Krista Hiatt, a juvenile court
counselor. "You've got a lot of potential."

Foose admitted she was somewhat overwhelmed by the attention she received
Friday. "You're going to make me cry," she said at one point.

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court is held every other week on designated
Mondays and Fridays. Participants are picked by Hiatt from case files. To
be selected for the program, juveniles must be previously convicted in
juvenile court and be between 12 and 15 years of age.

Most court officials donate their time to the program.

Foose said now that she's got her life back on track, she plans to one day
work with troubled youth such as she once was.

She's pursuing a degree in criminology from Rowan-Cabarrus Community
College and said she hopes to eventually work as a juvenile court counselor.

Foose said she thinks her own experiences will help her work with troubled
youth.

"I want to talk to them before they get as deep as I was," she said.