When asked how he got to Dakota Memorial School (DMS), the on-campus school of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Mason set the tone with his ever-present sense of humor. "Well, it's a bit of a story so make sure you have your crumpets and tea."
Mason said he and his family moved to Stanley, ND, just before he started seventh grade. "Seventh grade went fine. In eighth grade, things started going downhill. And finally, in my first semester of my ninth-grade year, that's when things really hit the fan."
Mason was uncomfortable in the large classes and when he started to panic, he sometimes just walked out. He was always on high alert and couldn't focus on the teacher or his studies. One day, Mason showed up at his mom's work after running away from school. That's when his parents and the school knew something had to change.
Dakota Memorial School was 50 miles from Stanley—requiring a lot of time on the road for Mason, especially in the winter. But the Stanley High School Principal and Mason's parents decided it was the best option to gibe Mason the very best chance at success.
"The first few months were difficult, to say the least," Mason said.
DMS Principal, Tina DeGree, agreed. "When Mason started there were so many things he wanted to control, and he just couldn't. He wanted to control his thinking. He wanted to control his actions. We needed to meet Mason where he was at in the moment. We found things Mason loved, like history and social studies, and immersed him in the things he felt comfortable with."
That support from the administration and staff at DMS, combined with a supportive family and sending school principal, helped to create an environment where Mason could thrive.
"It was a big plus that Mason had a supportive family," DeGree said. "Whenever we reached out to his mom, she was always available. He had people at home who were willing to work with us and to give him the support and consistency he needed."
As Mason settled in and started doing well in school, it became clear he wanted to be a leader. DeGree said she started giving him extra responsibilities to nurture his desire to lead. He picked the word of the week and put it up on the calendar, and he chose inspiring quotes for the bulletin board. By his senior year, Mason was on the student council and was a teacher's assistant in one of the social studies classrooms.
"As I slowly started to feel more comfortable, I actually developed a reputation around the place as being, as I like to say, the cuddly Teddy Bear. If you need comfort, I'm the guy to go to," Mason said.
Mason said the teachers at DMS were fantastic. "I grew really attached to my teachers. One of the teachers, Ms. Jones, was basically my school mom. We shared a love of history. I don't remember exactly how our bond formed, but we were just really close. And Mrs. Erz—I called her 'cranky old lady,' and she called me 'cranky old man.'"
He also gives credit to the paras for making a huge impact on him, particularly his para, Tiffany. "Tiffany is one of the big reasons I was able to succeed so much at DMS. She was just really nice and had a very calm and welcoming demeanor. It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but there were so many things about her that just really worked with me."
Mason continued his high school studies at DMS, graduating in 2020. Because it was a COVID year, DMS held individual mid-summer graduation parties in the park. "We were outside in this little tent and the wind was really blowing," Mason said. "When I got out of the car all these teachers started driving by honking their horns. It was very sweet."
"Would I have graduated from high school without the Ranch? I think it's 50-50. But one thing is for sure, I wasn't going to stay in regular school much longer. I was just a wreck."
Now, Mason is doing well. He has a job and has maintained a lasting friendship with one of his DMS classmates. DeGree said he also stays in touch with teachers and staff at DMS.
In closing, Mason said, "I want people to know Dakota Memorial School is a place where there are people you can trust. If things seem bleak, like when a problem seems so ginormous you don't think anyone can fix it, it's best to trust the people there. They will do their darndest to help you."
This article was originally published in Ranch Voice: Winter 2021.
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