Tevin Duhon- My Road to Hope

Tevin Duhon

High School Director

I began working my sophomore year of high school, not knowing what to expect or what I was getting into. For the longest time I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I needed my education. So, I started working part time at the Kart Ranch, in Youngsville Louisiana. Stayed there all through high school. I began college still not sure what I wanted to do in life, but GOD was slowing showing me a light in the tunnel. A few years later I was promoted and I begin to train a lot of young men and women on working attractions we offered. That is when I realized I may be called to work with youth. I didn’t realize it until I was sitting with one of my bosses and we made a general comment of, “these kids are so young and have never worked and they don’t know how to work.” I began to realize that most of the kids that I trained stayed and ended up moving up in the company and became leaders on the staff. A lesson that I passed on to them was that if you work hard for what you want no one can take it away from you. I also felt I created some very close relationships with those kids and they all looked up to me as a big brother.  

So, move on a couple years later. I’ve graduate college, found me a beautiful woman, and we find some land on the outskirts of Opelousas and move into our home. A month later we find a small community church called Christ Church where we fell in love with the members and their families. We are introduced to Emanuel and Nasia Woods who worked at Hope For Opelousas. We begin going to bible study/Community group sessions and I was introduced to Loren. One night at a community group session he said they were looking for a New High School Director because Emanuel  was about to move, so again the light in the tunnel went on and my wife nudged me and said, “you need to go talk to him”. So I did. I applied and went through the process. When Loren offered me the position it took a week to contemplate my options, but after many restless nights and conversations with my wife I decided to accept the position. It was a difficult process to leave a business that had taken care of me for so long, but I knew this was what God was calling me to. 

As my journey has just began with this organization, I know that this will not be an easy task to take on, but I know GOD is on my side and he will help me push through the Hills and Valleys. I pray I am able to make a difference in these kids’ lives and help them prepare for the future. The world needs our children to grow and with organizations like ours we can give the world HOPE!