When I was 12 years old, my siblings and I became wards of the state of Florida. Initially, Department of Children and Families (DCF) tried to keep the four of us together, but with four children between the ages of 5 – 12, it was quite a challenge to find families that were willing to take all of us in at once. As a result, we ended up being split apart. While the four of us were all victims of our mother’s negligence, and each dealt with it differently, I can only speak for myself when I share how it affected me.
My entire childhood left me yearning for love and acceptance; I was unhappy, angry, had a negative self-image, low self-esteem and was depressed – to the extent I attempted suicide several times. I wasn’t motivated to go to school, much less capable of setting goals for myself, nor concerned with planning for my future. Under these circumstances, I began to act out. For whatever reason, the adults in my life were not overly concerned with my behavior, so I resorted to actions that felt right or good in the moment. Those decisions ultimately led me down a dark path, as I reflect upon that life, I am surprised I am still alive.
Today, because I realize the importance of having people in your life that are genuinely concerned with your well-being, I stand with and support The Primitive Recharge Foundation. To not, means everything I have gone through would be in vain.
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