Alumni Testimonials - Cheerful Helpers Child and Family Study Center

Alumni Testimonials

"A day doesn't go by that Jess and I don't think about you guys and all that Cheerful Helpers taught us...Sam's now a happy, thriving third grader in public school with pretty much just psychological services and speech & language. I don't think his principal and teachers believe us when we tell them what our lives were like back when he was three. Remember when he couldn't handle 'Hi Ho Cherry-O?' Now he's in both Chess Club and International Games & Toys Club at his school. And last week he performed in the third graders' musical production where he had one of the few speaking parts and square danced with a girl. Watching the show, Jess and I didn't dare look at each other for fear of bursting into tears and seeming like freaks. (Again, no one here understands how far he's come!) His teachers report that he's a joy to have in class, that he volunteers for absolutely everything, that he isn't afraid to try new things. They marvel at his ability to express his feelings. He's also swimming competitively and taking guitar lessons and Taekwondo. And he played basketball this winter and wants to play soccer in the fall even though he knows he hasn't been especially successful with either sport. He works so hard, and we're so very proud of him. Oh! And he has three good buddies who are in his class, neuro-typical buddies, who have him over for play dates. He's just one of the guys in the bright, nerdy gang. But these friendships are nothing compared to the one he now shares with his little brother, Joe. They're as close as any siblings I've ever seen. Were it not for you guys and Cheerful Helpers, none of this could have been possible.

Thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for our family. And please know that the work you do, your daily work, is remarkable and transcendent."

- Stephanie Boles

Jordan in preschool at Cheerful Helpers

"It is hard to believe that it has been a dozen years since Jordan graduated from Cheerful Helpers. Our experiences and the lessons we learned from that small, intimate, and nurturing environment are still with us today. Jordan is now over 6 feet tall, a senior at Bridges Academy in Studio City, and a delightful and caring human being. He just completed his college applications and was recognized as a National Merit Scholar Finalist. The foundation that he received at Cheerful Helpers, along with hard work finding the right schools and the right professionals since then, helped him to emerge as a brilliant, thoughtful young man. He is a gifted writer (mostly science fiction), a fabulous performer, and he dreams of a future in psychology or medicine. He is still a quirky, interesting kid who has his own perspective on the world around him but he feels good about himself, confident in what he is able to achieve, and comfortable in his own skin. We know that Cheerful Helpers was a critical part of our journey to this point and we continue to be thankful to the teachers, counselors, and staff for the amazing gift they gave to our family."

- Arlene Schneir and Steve Barlam

Jordan, 12th Grade, Bridges Academy

"I believe that life is like a path. We walk along it, rarely seeing beyond the next bend. All that I can say for sure is that I know where I started. Cheerful Helpers helped me get a solid footing on life. In this school, I learned the value of friends, the awe and triviality of everyday life, and a fundamental skill set that has followed me through life. From Cheerful Helpers, I was recommended to my elementary school, a school that in turn introduced me to my middle school and high school. In this sense, my path so far has been illuminated, the next step always visible. Right now, I’m a high school senior with straight As. I’m also a merit scholar whose been accepted into several colleges and plans on spending a gap year in Japan. As I leave the circle of protection that I have always known, the future seems a bit less clear but no less bright. Whatever lies beyond the next bend, I know that the lessons I’ve learned will let me rise to the occasion. I owe this all to the first steps I have taken down this path, to those that the Ellens have helped me to take."

- Jordan Barlam