Spring Break
Local author shares horrors of reform school upbringing
Ulriksen was held against her will in a Baptist reform school for a year as a teenager
Chloe Brunello
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
Being forced to attend chapel meetings on a regular basis, the group of girls would have to endure the preacher's constant accusations and assumptions that they were "whores" and it was their own fault if they had been raped.
Exactly one year later, Ulriksen's parents came to pick her up. Her mother told her that if she misbehaved again, she would end up back at the reform school.
One month later, after having an argument about whether or not Michele could listen to U2's new album Joshua Tree, Michele fled before she was taken back to the dreaded reform school.
Ulriksen spent the remainder of the months before her 18th birthday with friends. When attempts to live with friends didn't pan out, Ulriksen tried to move home, but because she refused to attend church, her mother preferred that she become homeless rather than live at home.
After living out of her car in southern California, Ulriksen found a job and attended school at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco.
Ulriksen recalls suffering from a culture shock. When she saw a woman wearing make-up and pants, it was a risqué feeling. Living for so long without being allowed to make your own choices made it difficult to make even the simplest of decisions.
"I couldn't even order from a fast food restaurant menu," Ulriksen said.
After moving to Oregon eight years ago, Ulriksen left her job at Oregon Public Broadcasting to pursue a degree at LBCC and write her book "Reform at Victory."
Because Ulriksen grew up in a very conservative family which didn't talk openly about issues that teens are confronted with, she has a very different outlook on child rearing than her mother did.
"Mothers have a responsibility to talk with their children about sex, drugs, etc.," Ulriksen said.
Ulriksen wrote "Reform at Victory" to raise awareness about what a nightmare unlicensed reform schools can really be. She believes that if parents so choose to send their children to this kind of school, it is prudent that they research the school well and take a look at background checks of the people that they are handing their children over to; otherwise, they risk not knowing if they are sending their child to a school where mental abuse and an unethical upbringing are the norm.
Chloe Brunello, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Exactly one year later, Ulriksen's parents came to pick her up. Her mother told her that if she misbehaved again, she would end up back at the reform school.
One month later, after having an argument about whether or not Michele could listen to U2's new album Joshua Tree, Michele fled before she was taken back to the dreaded reform school.
Ulriksen spent the remainder of the months before her 18th birthday with friends. When attempts to live with friends didn't pan out, Ulriksen tried to move home, but because she refused to attend church, her mother preferred that she become homeless rather than live at home.
After living out of her car in southern California, Ulriksen found a job and attended school at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco.
Ulriksen recalls suffering from a culture shock. When she saw a woman wearing make-up and pants, it was a risqué feeling. Living for so long without being allowed to make your own choices made it difficult to make even the simplest of decisions.
"I couldn't even order from a fast food restaurant menu," Ulriksen said.
After moving to Oregon eight years ago, Ulriksen left her job at Oregon Public Broadcasting to pursue a degree at LBCC and write her book "Reform at Victory."
Because Ulriksen grew up in a very conservative family which didn't talk openly about issues that teens are confronted with, she has a very different outlook on child rearing than her mother did.
"Mothers have a responsibility to talk with their children about sex, drugs, etc.," Ulriksen said.
Ulriksen wrote "Reform at Victory" to raise awareness about what a nightmare unlicensed reform schools can really be. She believes that if parents so choose to send their children to this kind of school, it is prudent that they research the school well and take a look at background checks of the people that they are handing their children over to; otherwise, they risk not knowing if they are sending their child to a school where mental abuse and an unethical upbringing are the norm.
Chloe Brunello, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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