It wasn’t easy to get where I am today, but with the support and encouragement I have received from others, I’ve been able to overcome adversity in my life and channel my focus into helping others.
Growing up, I was subject to verbal and physical abuse at home. At only nine years old I had the responsibility of caring for my three younger siblings, and lived in a neighbourhood where I experienced exclusion and racism. From that young of an age, I wondered if the world would be better off without me. I constantly asked myself, would anyone even notice if I was gone?
At the age of twelve, my life was on a downward spiral. It wasn’t until my school counselor noticed that things began to change. He became a mentor, creating an environment of love and support, encouraging me to believe in myself.
With his help, I learned I had value. I learned how to set and achieve goals. I learned strategies to overcome my challenges. His acknowledgement and kindness towards me changed my life forever.