I became a ward of the state of Massachusetts the day I was born. My parents—who had a history of addiction, criminal activity and poverty—left me abandoned in a hospital. My great aunt took me and my siblings in. At the age of 10, my siblings and I were reunited with my mother, but two years later she voluntarily returned us back to the state without notice. I was placed in non-relative foster homes, continuously moving around from home to home until I eventually aged out of the system. I was left feeling shattered and confused with no family, no support and no place to call home.
As abuse plagued my entire being very early in life, I began to quickly look for ways to heal. At first I started hoarding food and overeating as a result of my experience of being locked in a basement for hours without food, water or light. As I became older, I started to soothe my wounds with pornography, which then turned into promiscuity and an all around messy lifestyle. After suffering an anxiety attack in 2008, I realized that it was important for me to take some time off from school. I needed to take care of myself if I wanted to live the life that God envisioned for me. I came to Mercy struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and panic anxiety caused by childhood abuse and neglect.
Growing up with so many challenges, I was unable to see how my life would eventually be used for good. Being at Mercy allowed me to experience true joy for the very first time and to see Christ in a brand new way. No longer did I see Him as someone who allowed me to go through negative circumstances, but now I saw God as my protector and Father. My time at Mercy was pivotal in launching me to where I am today and who I have become. I gained a better understanding of myself and learned about God’s unconditional love for me. I have had many ups and downs since leaving Mercy, but the beauty of it all is that I am still choosing life. I am stronger than ever and learning that freedom is a daily process I must work at. It was during a very critical time in my life when I heard these very important words: Never allow your past to dictate your future. Understanding and speaking those truths became more evident in my life as I relied on and applied the tools that I gained while at Mercy.
Since graduating from Mercy, I have earned a college degree in social work and sociology. From there, I interned with the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), addressing policies on Capitol Hill that affect the Foster Youth Program. I quickly recognized this as an opportunity to give voice and first-hand perspective to the challenges that foster youth face today. As part of my internship, I even got to write, present and publish a policy report to the White House staff and Congress, making critical recommendations on standardizing, trauma-informed care practices and training for foster and adoptive parents. My time on Capitol Hill has given me confidence to continue advocating for those without a voice. In fact, I was selected for another internship—this time at the White House—to further affect change in the foster care system. I want to thank Mercy for never giving up on me and providing hope for my life. I am excited to see what God will continue to do.