For the past few months, I have worked at the Nevada Youth Training Center  (NYTC) in Elko, Nevada.  This is a State run training center for boys 12 or so to 18 years of age who the courts have determined could use some extra training in life skills and schooling.  It is a good program.  I am proud to be associated with it.

In front of the administration building at NYTC is a small set of six concrete steps.  One day as I was leaving work, I noticed a group of new wards walking up these steps - headed into the administration building.  The next evening as I returned for night shift, I was a bit early, so I sat on these steps and wondered …

Steps of Life

How much anger -

Has walked up these steps?

How much frustration, hatred and fear?

What were the actions that brought our boys here?

These steps were poured in late ’62.

Now 40 years later - they don’t look so new.

The corners are rounded and cracks now appear.

Worn by the thousands of boys who have passed through here.

Where are these boys now?

Where are the ones who first walked these steps?

In their fifties, they’d be, if this age they did reach.

Imagine life's lessons that these men could teach.

How many prospered with what they learned here?

How many darkened these steps once again?

How many went to prison  - only to sit and decay?

How many perished on drugs or died in some fray?

And what of the boys now in our care?

Will they be prepared when it's their time to leave?

Will they face the challenges of life and wisely choose?

Or will they surrender to the lure of gangs and drugs or booze?

Though cold was the night,

And hard were these steps,

I knelt and I prayed for divine insight.

To better help these young men in our care tonight.

To help these boys to learn and grow,

And life’s virtues to better know.

So, they’ll be better prepared for the choices and strife.

When it's their turn to walk down - these steps of life.

                                                             - Dan Turner, 2/18/03

                                                                         Elko, Nevada