Daniella steps onto the stage before the curtain call. In her mind, she isn’t Daniella but Jude, a girl left to care for her sick father while her mother, an astronaut, is away.

She takes a deep breath, grounding herself in her character with a breathing exercise her theater instructor taught her: three seconds in, three seconds out, repeating until her nerves calm.

She remembers the encouraging words of a house parent at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, where she is a junior in high school. They once told her she had a talent for acting. Then, a minister encouraged her to lean on God for peace.

With confidence and her lines rehearsed, she thinks, “I’ve got this.”

As the curtains rise, she’s ready to showcase her talent and months of hard work.

Daniella recalls a time when life wasn’t so bright. Before coming to Boys Ranch, she wasn’t making the best decisions and didn’t have the encouragement she needed to see what she was capable of. Her outgoing personality, once a source of trouble, has now become a celebrated trait, channeled into her achievements.

“I’ve had so many people help me be comfortable with myself,” Daniella said. “They helped me not be scared to talk to people, and they helped me grow my faith as a Christian.

“Being around such good people showed me how good of a person I could truly be.”

One person who played a big role in Daniella’s faith journey was a member of the Iona Project, a chapel immersion program for young adults to share a life of prayer, scripture, mutual accountability, and youth ministry. The kindness and devotional time from the Iona Project resonated deeply with Daniella, offering her comfort and strength.

“She had really good devotionals,” Daniella said. “It was nice to be in a quiet place with her and my friends, talking about how to deal with our feelings and problems in the way God would want us to. She’d even take us out for a drive if we needed an escape. She made me feel loved and cared for, and I want to make others feel the same way.”

Daniella also found a mentor in Vainicka Maurice, her current house parent, who consistently goes above and beyond for her and the other girls.

“She was so sweet; she was always helping us,” Daniella said. “Even when she was off, she’d still find time for us, traveling nearly three hours to attend our games. She’d take us to town and even got up at six in the morning to book us nail appointments for prom. She wanted us to know we were important to her.”

The support Daniella received from people at Boys Ranch has propelled her toward remarkable achievements. She managed her middle school basketball team for two years, competed in track for three years, ran cross-country for two years, and won in One Act Play during her third year. She’s also been in cheerleading for two years and competed in University Interscholastic League (UIL) events for three years.

“My house parents helped me a lot,” Daniella said. “They helped me get closer to God and learn how to manage my emotions in a healthy way.”

Once she leaves Boys Ranch, Daniella plans to attend Amarillo College to complete her basic educational requirements for a degree. She dreams of attending a larger university for the full college experience and is considering a career in psychology or teaching, hoping to become a social worker or a kindergarten teacher.

Whatever path she chooses, she’s sure it will involve helping others, just as she’s been helped.

To the donors who make Boys Ranch possible, Daniella expresses her gratitude.

“Thank you for helping us to thrive, for giving us a place to live and grow, and for supporting our success,” she said.