Created: 10/29/2008 9:11:14 PM 
"Only thing I knew is how to sell drugs, how to get money, and that was about it," said current college student Al Henry.
For 13 years, Al Henry grew up without a true family or home.
"Horrible, let's just put it that way. It was every man's nightmare," said Henry.
With a mother in and out of jail, he spent time on the streets, in multiple foster homes, and eventually in a juvenile detention center.
"Back then, if you would talk to me, I'm not going to talk back. You mess with me, I'm going to beat you up. I was a violent kid," said Henry.
Henry admits he was a teen some might have called a waste of time and effort. But thankfully for him, there's a program in Columbia looking to change lost kids.
Seven years ago, Henry moved into the Carolina Boys Home.
"They get the worst kids and change them into the best. Like me, I was one of the worst," said Henry.
The Carolina Boys Home houses eight different middle school and high school students. The kids live two to three to a room, and live in an environment much like a normal house.
Jannie Nelson started the program in 2001. She says their goal is to find teens who have ended up in the most trouble, invite them in and change them.
"If you are dealing with children who are displaced from their home, if you give them love, patience, and understanding, you will see these children change," said Nelson.
Before the kids move in, they set goals with their social workers about ways they are going to improve. After their goals are met, they move back into a regular foster home setting.
Henry has since moved out of the house and gone onto college. He still works at the house that he says provided him with both a place to live, and a family.
"People share their experiences on each other, tell each other about their life, where they are from, and you make that brotherly bond," said Henry.
Also Henry says that Nelson has become the mom he never got to really have.
"She taught me manners, and how to behave in school, just the simple things you'd learn growing up in your household. Since I didn't have a house, nobody taught me that. If it weren't for Ms. Nelson, I would probably still be that violent kid I was. If it weren't for this place, you'd probably see me on the news, lying on the ground. This place has really changed my life, and it has changed the life of a lot of other people too," said Henry.
The Carolina Boys Home is looking for volunteers willing to mentor the teens. You can find out more by clicking here.
