Jiselle – 2011 Graduate

I grew up in a Christian family, but during my teenage years, several people that I cared about died and I became angry with God. I began self-harming at age 14 to cope with my pain. I was also sexually abused during that time and began to struggle with anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide. At the age of 17, I ended up in jail as a result of problems with addiction and rebellion. I then also learned that I was pregnant. My mom told me about Mercy, and I decided to apply because I realized how incapable I was of loving my son and caring for him if I wasn’t even able to care for myself. When I arrived, I was extremely motivated and ready for a huge transformation in my life.

While at Mercy, God completely opened my eyes to His provision in my life. He has brought tremendous change in my heart and I now desire to live completely for Him. The work done at Mercy is incredible, and I could never fully express the depth of my gratitude.

After graduation, I plan to parent my son and graduate from high school. I then plan to go to college to become an RN.