Book excerpt: Having walked many miles in troubled kids' shoes as a teenager, the author was able to relate to her students. In the attempt to reach out to her troubled kids, Ms. Chuta revisited her teenage years. As she encouraged her students to let go of their past for a better future, she was able to deal with her own past as well. In analyzing her students' different needs, she was able to conclude that it is possible to find wisdom underneath our pains.