Project Cda Was The Break This Senior Needed On His Own Since He Was Very Young, Justin Fruechtl Has Taken Great Strides Toward Bright Future
Class of ‘99 Special graduation edition
Justin Fruechtl is older than his years.
At 19, he has a mortgage, a wife, a child, two cars and a full-time job.
Four years ago, his claims to fame came off a rap sheet. He spent time in jail, on the streets, in a mental institution. He fought, did drugs, stole. He was bad.
Or in his words: “hooligan scum.”
“I don’t have any regrets about things I have done,” he said. “Everything I have done has been a learning device.”
“I am most proud of myself. Proud of how I changed myself around,” he said.
The about-face that Justin Fruechtl has pulled off is an inspiration. He will graduate in June from Project CdA and has earned an academic scholarship to North Idaho College.
“Here is a young man who has overcome some hard-core adversity,” said Julie Green, principal at Project CdA, an acronym meaning Creating Drop Out Alternatives as well as indicating the school’s hometown.
“Justin is a wonderful example of resiliency. When he came to us he was completely unfamiliar with success. Now he knows success and enjoys it,” Green said.
No one looked out for Justin. His parents were divorced, and his father, well, Justin has a lot of emotions about his father. Suffice it to say, Dad wasn’t always there for him. No one was there for him.
“I raised myself since I was really young. In seventh grade, I was into drugs. I went to jail. I was on probation and I had a lot of problems with the law. I went to school maybe one period or two and then I would leave. I gave up on school. I can’t do it. I really thought I was stupid.”
He kept falling deeper until he landed in a mental institution. “I woke up there one day and realized that if I don’t do something with myself, I’ll end up in jail or dead.”
He moved to Seattle, where his mother lives, and tried to start over there. “It was worse,” he said.
His break came when he moved back to Coeur d’Alene and was accepted into Project CdA, an alternative school.
“I still had it rough. You know, fights with my family. I got kicked out, was staying with friends and moochin’ off of people. But I stayed in school and I made it through the first year.
“The teachers here really saved me. I was a lost soul when I came here. I love my teachers. It took them a few years, but they got to me.”
The feeling is mutual, said Principal Green. “He is the kind of kid who makes you feel positive about what the future may hold, because he is a part of it.”
It was small steps at first. He got a job at JB’s Restaurant. He saved his money and bought a car. He met a girl and fell in love. Their son Terrell is 5 months old. They bought a house on Justin’s 19th birthday.
“No matter what you do in life, if you put your mind to it, you can succeed,” he said. “From where I was, to where I am,” he adds with a smile. “It’s true. I’ve proved it to myself over and over again.”
Justin will graduate from high school this June with straight A’s. He earned a full-ride scholarship to North Idaho College and will study diesel technology.
Justin’s life: work, school and paying bills. They don’t have medical insurance or any spending money or luxuries. “Struggle now, enjoy later,” he said.
“Ten years from now, I’ll still be working my butt off. Hopefully I will be living nicely from my career and maybe we can make some business investments. I just want my family to be living nice, nothing special. Just a normal life.”
And for his son, Justin hopes he grows up in a safe world “where people pay more attention to what is going on around us.”
As for his wife, “I need to respect her more. She takes care of our house and our son and me. She puts up with me and that’s a lot.”
Spoken like an adult.
“Yeah. I feel like I’m 50!”
My hero My grandfather. He is quite an outstanding person. He’s one of those quiet people, you know. When he has something to say, it’s right. He has been a good provider for 60 or 70 years, and I understand what that means now. - Justin Fruechtl