Teen turns around with help from Alpharetta PAL

Reeling in wild teenagers is never easy for parents. Sometimes parents need help, and that is where the Alpharetta Police Athletic League (PAL) comes in. The organization is proving it can restructure lives and get young people back on the right track.

Justin Carvalho, 17, of Alpharetta was on the wrong path two years ago. Looking back now, he says he made some bad decisions. He got into fights, wound up expelled from school, and was transferred to Crossroads in Roswell. Problems worsened and Carvalho began getting into trouble with the law and ended up on probation.

“He was listening to the same voice day in and day out at home and it wasn’t enough for him,” said his mother, Sophia Revels.  “The people at PAL said the same things but gave it to him in a different manner. The choices were meet Jesus or go to PAL,” said his mom Sophia Revels.

Veronica Carew, the PAL administrator, said when Justin came to her office she knew he was on probation, in alternative school and defiant at home. But he was respectful when she saw him.

"I immediately felt that he was a kid who knew right from wrong, and told him what I expected of him while in our program. My goal was to help Justin realize that he and he alone had the power to turn his life around, and he did just that," Carew said.

Carvalho entered the boxing and mentoring programs. He was given straight talk from coaches and a no-nonsense staff. He was training his body to box, but receiving valuable life training as well.

PAL provides a variety of programs to young people, including boxing, music, and mentoring, while establishing a bond of mutual respect, understanding and trust .

“It helped show me the right way to go in life. I was at a crossroads, but it helped me to do the right thing,” said Carvalho, now a junior at Alpharetta High School with business school ambitions.

Carvalho has been held accountable for his poor decisions and turning his life around. He is not only maintaining a B average in school, but also working two jobs as well.

“I used to make decisions and didn’t even think about it. Now I think about the long run,” Carvalho said.

Over the past two years she said Justin got himself off of probation, participated in PAL's mentoring program, boxing program, leadership program, and last summer was made a summer camp counselor in training.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to see troubled children that have largely been written off by society, change their lives,” Carew said.

"Justin went from being a troublemaker, to now being a kid who stops and thinks about the consequences of his actions before he speaks or makes choices.  I never doubted that Justin had the potential to grow into a prominent young man, and it’s to nice to see his self esteem and self worth increase.  I know Justin will go far in life, and he now believes it too," Carew said.

PAL is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit community outreach organization. For more information, call Officer Phil Ritchey at 678-297-6309.