“I am en route to becoming a National Youth Poet Laureate, one of my biggest dreams. I plan on attending a four year college, then I hope to go into the FBI. Millard North is providing me with a long overdue challenge and realistic opportunity to pursue my dreams,” junior Megan Lambert said.

Created by Father Flanagan in 1917, Boys Town is a renowned, non-profit organization created as a place for youth and families to come and work on discovering who they are while simultaneously building a life for themselves. 

Although Boys Town’s focus is on keeping the children and teenagers safe and out of the system, Boys Town also offers them an education that is specialized for their needs.

“Boys Town offers kids a chance to get back on track in life, by providing an atmosphere of structure and

care. Us kids also acquire skills here that are necessary to one day become an adult,” senior Madison Hagan said.

Alongside their classes at Boys Town, the students have been given the option to come to MN and partake in a class throughout the school day. The students from Boys Town are offered a variety of classes to choose to join, ranging from regular to Advanced Placement courses.

“AP Literature and Composition is my only class at MN, but it creates a challenge for myself. If I had the option to take another class at MN, it would be some sort of computer class because that’s what I want to study in college.” senior Nia Wilson said. 

And although many may apply for a position to come to MN, only a few of the students are allowed to be a part of this partnership between MN and Boys Town. 

“A few of my fellow students and I, who excel both behaviorally and academically in the school system at Boys Town, are allowed the opportunity to take more challenging classes at Millard North. It is an amazing opportunity,” Lambert said. 

While excited to come to MN to learn and meet new students and staff, Lambert and the rest of the students in the program were worried about the vast differences and the adjustment between MN and Boys Town. 

“I must say that coming to Millard North is a little nerve-wracking. I have never been surrounded by so many teenagers. The last public school I went to had about 200 students at max,” Lambert said. “I am used to everyone knowing everyone, so Millard is very different.”

While at MN, Lambert and her friends hope to not only strengthen their knowledge in certain subjects but also form friendships with the students at MN and break the stereotypical assumptions people may have associated with kids at Boys Town. 

“Also, taking classes at Millard is a chance for me to prove that Boys Town kids are normal kids, just like all of the other students. Many times, people have these preconceived ideas of Boys Town kids. I hope that I defy the stereotypical Boys Town kid,” Lambert said. 

However, even though MN has given Boys Town students a new community to be a part of and the opportunity to further their education, Boys Town still remains their true home. 

“I became Mayor of Boys Town in May, and it has allowed me many opportunities many kids my age would never get to experience,” Hagan said. “In addition, Boys Town is where my family is. Maybe they’re not biological, but family nonetheless. I discovered my true potential here at Boys Town, and I would not be talking to you right now if I never had come to Boys Town.”