BLOOMINGTON - If Saville Dangerfield has to run in the pouring rain until he is soaking wet, compete against almost 150 other young people for 70 spots at a school or do homework on the weekend, he will. | Photo gallery

The 20-year-old Normal man says he has good reason: He is the father of four children ranging in age from 4 months to 4 years old.

"I need to do this so they can have somebody to look up to," he said.

Dangerfield was among 112 young people, ages 17 to 24, who survived the first three days of tests of mental and physical toughness as part of their effort to be accepted into the YouthBuild of McLean County program.

At the end of seven days, on Thursday, 50 students will be chosen to be part of YouthBuild's traditional program where they can earn a general equivalency diploma or a high school diploma while learning construction trade skills. Another 20 will be chosen for the new charter high school created in association with Normal-based Unit 5 school district.

"If you can't take this little thing, then you can't take what the world will throw at you," Dangerfield said of the tough orientation week. "If you can't take it, walk away and give someone else a chance."

That's the message issued by the YouthBuild leaders Friday at the Interstate Center in Bloomington to students who had toughed out the first three days of orientation.

Students knew the drill. Their team leader would begin: "If you choose to do your homework …"

"You get to stay," all students shouted in unison.

"If not …"

"You go home."

Suzanne Fitzgerald, executive director of the YouthBuild McLean County, said the program works best when students who know they aren't committed enough take themselves out of the application pool.

"We want them to self-select out," she said.

It's harder for the staff to reduce numbers of those who really want the chance, she said.

Christopher Williams, 23, who is on his third admission attempt, knows he really has to want it.

"This time I've got a better attitude," he said. "I'm tired of wondering, day to day, what to do next."

Brett Dunlap, 19, of Bloomington, another applicant, said he is ready for the second chance at an education and a good job YouthBuild offers. He works at Taco Bell, but wants to learn a trade.

"It's mainly for myself," he said, adding that he has a girlfriend too.

One of the success stories is Kareema Barr, 23, of Bloomington.

"I was considered a lost cause," she said of when she started YouthBuild in 2006.

Since then, she completed the program and earned an associate's degree at Heartland Community College, Normal. She is studying business management at Illinois State University, Normal, with a focus on working for nonprofit organizations.

The wife and mother of three also works full- and part-time jobs at Marcfirst and the YWCA and volunteers for YouthBuild at the national level. She is on the charter school's inaugural board.

"They helped me succeed in education and at home," Barr said of YouthBuild.