Karly Harrison, '10, Credits Boys Town for Helping to Build Her Future
Karly Harrison had a path not much different than many Boys Town alumni and through her experience in life and at Boys Town she has taken the lessons learned and created a life for herself that is positive and productive.  Her story is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit when given a chance to change.  During this Easter season Karly's story is even more poignant as she finds redemption and peace through her journey at Boys Town.  Thank you Karly for sharing your very personal journey.

BT Nation eNewsletter:  Tell us when, why and how you came to Boys Town.
karly-harrison-600x800Karly:  It was the summer of 2008. I was 16 and naïve to the fact that a world bigger than my own existed. My childhood and life at that time was truly as perfect as could be; I was provided with everything and longed for nothing. My parents worked hard for themselves and our family to provide the best life for us. Although they succeeded, their careers pulled them into directions that took their attention away from my brother and me. We took advantage of that fact and began spending more time with friends that our parents didn’t approve of which lead to experimenting with drugs and alcohol. As the housing market was crashing, my mother’s real estate brokerage was crumbling. There my parents were, with two coming-to-be-delinquent children and a failing business. They were stressed and spread thin, which I took advantage of at the time. I couldn’t see the toll this stress was taking on my mom. It was that summer they sat us down and told us she was sick. ‘Terminal’ they said, ‘one year at best’.

I began to spiral, running away from home and still getting into trouble. Thus my subsequent arrest for stealing alcohol. Despite the cancer and the stress, my parents still managed to do what they could to help me. Therapy, medications and group counseling ensued. I refused to participate in any of it. Knowing my mother’s imminent passing was coming and having nowhere else to turn, my parent’s began exploring options for me.

As that summer turned to fall and school was about to begin, my parents told me it was time to take care of my legal charges for the arrest. They said they had a family attorney in Los Angeles that could help. ‘Pack your bags’ my mom said, ‘only for a week’. It wasn’t until we hit the layover in Las Vegas that I realized something was amiss.

I was always a daddy’s girl. I found out later he wasn’t strong enough to accompany us on the trip. My mother and my sister were all I had and in that moment in Vegas, I clung to them like I hadn’t done in years.  Then we arrived in Omaha. I had never seen miles of land so flat. In the hotel that night, as I looked out the window I whispered to my sister, ‘you are going to leave me here’. The tears welling in her eyes were enough for me to know it was true.

The next morning, I arrived at the Boys Town RTC. I was considered a flight risk, so a locked facility was best at the time. Those two weeks are much of a blur in my mind today as I was trying to wrap my head around the gravity of the situation. I was so desperate to get answers to why and how my parents could do this that I began complying with the rules. It was soon that I was transferred to Boys Town campus.  Walking into my new Family Teacher’s home for the first time was actually very comforting. I was glad to be out of the RTC. I’ve always had a social outgoing personality which made me click with the family right away. Walking in that door the first time, I had no way of knowing that over the next few years I would lose the family I knew, yet gain a much bigger one in return.
BT Nation eNewsletter:  What were the most challenging things you had to deal with or adjust to when you first came to Boys Town?
Karly:  I made it to Boys Town campus from the RTC within a few weeks of being in Omaha. It was now October in 2008 and I started my relationship with Boys Town filled with many hesitations and reservations. At this point I had ceased communication with my family out of anger and spite. I remember feeling very alone during this time.

Adaptability has always been one of my strong suits. I was starting to catch onto the system and began to form the foundation of my relationship with my family teacher’s, Chris and Michelle Tauber. The only authority figures I fought against were my parents. I didn’t have the urge to fight Chris and Michelle. They were so nice to me; it was easy to quickly see how genuine these new people in my life were.

More than anything, I wanted to go home. It consumed me. I didn’t want to participate at Boys Town. However, there wasn’t much of a choice. Understanding the Boys Town model rewards positive behaviors, I decided I would follow all rules so that I had a better chance of going home as soon as possible. I remember hearing Fr. Peter say, ‘Fake it until you make it’. And that’s basically what I did. I don’t know when the switch took place in my heart, but once it did, I continued to buy into the program more and more. I know Chris and Michelle had so much to do with motivating me during this time.

It was now the beginning of December in 2008 and my parents called asking me to please come home for the holiday, knowing it would be my mother’s last Christmas with us. I broke down and all of the walls I had put up against them came crumbling down in that moment. I was exhausted of holding onto all of that anger. I went home that Christmas and to this day, it is the fondest memory I have with my parents.

In 2009 I faced the most challenging experiences that forever changed who I am. This is the year that my parents passed away. It was the end of January. I was pulled out of class and made my walk back to my family house. ‘This is it’, I thought, ‘my mom has passed away’. When I was asked to take a seat at the dining room table, the energy in the room was much darker than I had anticipated. I knew something much worse than I thought had happened. It was then that I was told my father had passed away in a fatal hunting accident. The stabbing pain that hit my heart in that moment is indescribable. I flew home the next day and started to prepare for the funeral. This was such a grim time knowing my mother was going to pass within the year as well. My parents shared the deepest love I have ever seen. Once my father passed, my mother couldn’t continue her battle with cancer. She quickly deteriorated and I lost her not long after in the end of March.

There are only two people in this world who got me through the rest of that year. Two people who promised me that every day for the rest of my life, I would still wake up knowing I was loved by them, just as deeply as my own parents loved me. Two people who I can never fully show enough gratitude for; Chris and Michelle.
BT Nation eNewsletter:  What were some of your favorite memories of your days at Boys Town?
Karly:  There were so many activities to be involved in at Boys Town! I played almost every sport while there and discovered I enjoyed weightlifting. Always very competitive, I strived to be the best athletically and at Boys Town my athleticism was able to shine.

Other fond memories of my time at Boys Town include family holidays. Christmas was always a special time and Michelle always took special care to ensure we received the best gifts. She knew how to bring us all together in the spirit of the holiday and truly just made it a very special time for our little family.

I can remember my times in the Hall of History on campus guiding visitors through campus as a tour guide. It was always a great experience and visitors were grateful for the experience. I loved this job and during this time I developed my public speaking skills.

Michelle never let me settle. She always pushed me, in the best ways, to be the all that I could be. After my many successes and wins in school, athletics and building relationships, she knew I was ready to run a campaign for the Boys Town mayoral election. At first, I did not want to do it. Michelle later convinced me that it was one of the best things I could do for myself and my college applications. My slogan was, ‘Don’t Talk About It, Be About It!’. Chris, Michelle and the girls in my home all pitched in as we made signs and put them all around campus. They listened and gave feedback as I practiced my speech in front of them over and over. It was such an exciting time, but boy was I nervous! The formal speech went off without a hitch and I remember feeling like I was on cloud nine. Although I did not win the election, I wasn’t upset. The entire running for mayor was simply so much fun that I was happy I was able to do as much as I did.

As I reflect back now, overall, my fondest memories are that of learning and growing physically, mentally and emotionally. I am so proud that I went through what I did and came out the other side so much stronger.
Karly:  BT Nation eNewsletter:  Who were the people who most motivated you or inspired you while at Boys Town?
The most motivational and inspirational people who influenced me during my time at Boys Town can be counted in a handful. I grew trust in Chris and Michelle. I got very lucky to be placed in their home. Yet, I do believe everything in life happens for a reason. There is no doubt I needed them in my life then and still today.

Chris and I always have had a special bond. To this day I call him my Papa Jay (Creighton Blue Jays) for many reasons. I will never forget when Chris replaced the chain on my locket that held my parent’s ashes. I came to Chris in tears so upset that it had broken. Without hesitation the next day he went out and bought a new chain to replace it. Chris later told me that in the moment it was broken, he heard my dad ask him to step in for him where he couldn’t. To me that gesture spoke volumes in my time of need. Chris also was the first to know I was accepted to Creighton. My acceptance letter had come in the mail while I was at school. It was only him and I when I opened the letter. I looked at the acceptance, then back to him. He was smiling bigger than me when said ‘I knew you could do it’. He told me he had done everything except open the envelope to peak at the word ‘accepted’.

Michelle was always one I could confide in and receive real, true life advice from. To say we developed a special bond is an understatement. She has become a role model for me in my adult life. During my time at Boys Town, she taught me that I don’t need to stay angry at the world for losing my parents. She helped me work through all of my grief during that time. Deeper, she changed me as a person. I am stronger, smarter and more confident because of the things she has taught to me.

Toward the end of my time at Boys Town, I started to become more involved in becoming an advocate for the organization. This is when I met Mr. Pick and Mr. Hames. These two gentlemen quickly began to invest in my development and have continued to provide support well after me graduating from Boys Town. One day, Mr. Hames invited me to join him in his public speaking events. We met with various groups of donors and I would share my story. Without the generous donations Boys Town receives, student like me would never get the support they desperately need. I’ve always had a grateful spot in my heart for donors who contribute to the organization from all over the world and I enjoyed speaking to them along side Mr. Hames. After graduating from Boys Town, Mr. Pick and I worked together over the course of my college career to workout my scholarship. We would talk often, and I was always appreciative of his compassion towards me. It was a few years into college when I was in a terrible car accident resulting in multiple spinal fractures. After recovering for a few weeks, Mr. Pick and Mr. Herb took me to lunch to check in on me and see how I was doing. Due to the fact I had already graduated from Boys Town, it touched my heart to know they were still so invested in seeing me succeed. To this day, Mr. Hames and I communicate on a regular basis. We send emails back and forth describing what is going on in our worlds and our adventures through life. I always look forward to receiving his witty and hilarious Christmas cards every year.

Each of these individuals have played an integral part in my growth and success. In my heart every day, they are close to me. As days go by, I continue to think of them and feel this overwhelming sense of gratitude for what they have each done for me in their own special ways.
Karly:  BT Nation eNewsletter:  How did your Boys Town experience prepare you for life?
Before Boys Town, I had no desire to attend college. During my first year on Boys Town campus, I quickly learned I was selling myself short and I was capable of such things like going to college and later starting a career. Without Boys Town, I would have never made it to Creighton University, let alone establish the career I have over the last 4 years.

The personal growth I experienced during my time at Boys Town became a fundamental foundation to who I am today. Over the years I was there, I learned how to be a leader, how to believe in myself and how to look at situations with an outside perspective. I learned patience, compassion and teamwork. I was taught how to communicate well with others, to always be a kind person and show gratitude where owed. These were life skills Boys Town instilled in me.

Growing up, my parents were notable examples of what it is to be a good person. They gave me the bareboned structure of who I was meant to be. Boys Town refined those attributes and taught me to lean into these strengths.

As an adult, I completed a self-assessment through Gallup that allowed me to identify my areas of strength. For me, my top 5 strengths were identified as being; Inclusiveness, Communication, Adaptability, Positivity and WOO (Winning Others Over).

It’s as simple to say as this – I would not be who I am today without Boys Town.
Karly:  BT Nation eNewsletter:  Tell us about your education/training/work experience after Boys Town.
Attending Creighton University was without a doubt the best decision I made for myself after graduating from Boys Town. I obtained a phenomenal education and further grew my intellectual abilities. Walking across the stage to receive my diploma, I thought I was going to fall, but I didn’t! And that speaks to my college career. There were many times that I thought I was going to fall and fail, but I made it.

Starting college, I chose my major to be pre-law. However, a few years into my studies I realized I loved economics. I made the decision to change majors and finished with my diploma in Business Administration, Economics. I am so happy I did!

After college, I moved home to California. My family has always been involved in real estate with many of them holding real estate licenses. Naturally, I thought that was the path I was going to take as well. I started my career with a mortgage firm as a Jr. Internal Auditor in the mortgage compliance sector. This company quickly saw my potential and I moved through several roles over the 3 years I was with the company.

Through this time, I learned a lot about myself, my goals and what I wanted to be ‘when I grew up’. I determined I wanted to be involved in technology, so I changed career paths and made the move to Xerox, where I work now.

I’ve been with Xerox a little over a year now and couldn’t be happier with my decision to change industries. My role as a Major Account Manager involves managing our largest customers with a global footprint. In this role, I have worked hand-in-hand with our Project Management office. In my discussions with the department director, I came to see a lot of my past had been project focused and I could see myself as a project manager. As I started to display interest in the field, the director brought me into several projects as a coordinator. Thus, my interest in the field peaked and I am now working to obtain formal project management certification.

Throughout my career growth, Boys Town has continued to invest in me. I’ve recently been awarded alumni scholarship to continue my education and training toward project management.
Karly:  BT Nation eNewsletter:  What are your future plans?
Looking toward the future, I want to stay strong and healthy both mentally and physically. Throughout life I continue to push myself to be the best I can be. I am looking forward to what the next few years has in store for me. I have learned to take life with a grain of salt and ride the waves of ups and downs. I know as much as one tries to plan for the future, sometimes things work out in a different way for the reasons they are supposed to. I have to believe that in life, everything happens for a reason.

Plans and goals I have for myself this year include moving in with my significant other and getting my first puppy. I have managed to keep a plant alive for more than 2 years now, so I think I’m ready for the responsibility of having a little puppy’s life in my hands. I do not yet have children, which is a plan of mine one day. First, I have to make sure I can take care of the puppy.
Karly:  BT Nation eNewsletter:  Briefly tell us about your family and what you enjoy doing for relaxation and fun.
The majority of my family is local in the California Bay Area. In fact, I made sure to move down the street from my aunt, uncle and cousins. Being away from my family was difficult for those years I was in Omaha. However, now we have developed relationships deeper than ever. I have 2 sisters as well, one local and one who is a bit further in Southern California. My big sisters are my best friends and I couldn’t imagine life without them.

In January of 2019 I found a phenomenal gym community known as CrossFit. This sport has changed my world. I have never been stronger or faster in the gym than I am now. CrossFit is a hard sport and is not for everyone. The workouts are very intense. There is something about feeling dead tired, barely breathing and continuing through the workout that I just cannot get enough of! The community of people and support keeps me going back each day.

There is a lot of other things I like to do like, swimming, hiking, boating, wine tasting and dinning. I have a lot of friends and stay very active socially. It seems there is always something to do in the Bay Area! I am lucky to live nestled between the beach and the mountains where I can layout in the sun and play in the waves one day and grab my snowboard and hit the slopes the next.

I am so happy in life. I generally have a passion to make the world a better place. I used to think the older I got, the more I would have life figured out. Michelle Tauber once told me, ‘No matter how old you get, you never stop growing’. I have never forgotten that. I strive to help others with the ways and compassion Boys Town taught me while learning to be a better person along the way.