Growing Up

 I would say I had a good childhood, aside from running away constantly and always on the move. I grew up near the highway, and loved every minute of it. I had so many good neighbors and friends.. some I still am friends with. We moved to a new address shortly after and that is where my parents live currently. I would say I was a very difficult child, by the means of I was always missing and would show up in my neighbors houses, sometimes even using there bathroom and sitting in there foyer. The most crazy thing I ever did was walk away from my swim club because I wanted to see my mom so I unbuckled myself from the swing I was in and walked up to a very busy street and started walking down Hoyt street, as I was walking a family parked there car and started walking with me, asking where I was going and simply replied “to see my mom” , my mom was driving in my dads old Jeep and saw a little girl who looked to be my age and was wearing a similar bathing suit. All of a sudden my mom slammed on the break in the jeep, got out and said that is my child, all while hyper ventilating. My dad on the other hand was very stressed and had the whole tennis team looking for me, in the lockers ( I liked to lock myself in there sometimes) all while my mom was entering the swim club. As my mom parked the car, got out and said I got her... my dad thought I had gotten out of the swing and ran to my mom. While my dad was trying to find me, he had gotten so nervous that he was combing his hair with his fingers. I had other incidents, but this one takes the cake! My neighbor would say i was like the the girl from bewitched, because once my mom and her said they would not take there eyes of of me, but that did not work because they started to talk and when they looked back... POOF! I was goneee! They had no idea how I did it but when I turned 7  i stopped running away and stopped giving my mom and dad stress. I am glad I stopped because than everyone is not worrying about me. 😀

Chapel Haven

I came to Chapel Haven in 2013 right when I got out of high school. I was 18 and was scared to go to a new school where I had to meet new friends and learn life skills. Before I came to Chapel Haven I had no clue as to what life skills were. As I progressed in Chapel Haven I learned many life skills.. laundry, cooking, cleaning. I am very grateful for Chapel Haven and have continued to use the life skills in my apartment! After I graduated from the first program Chapel Haven offers, which is called REACH, I moved into the next program called BRIDGE, where the school introduces apartment living to folks that still need a little support from the support coordinators.  After a year of BRIDGE, I moved off campus to the next level which is called COMMUNITY. I’ve lived in the community now for four years, starting w/a roommate in an apartment, and now I currently have my own apartment and love it! 

I work at an art studio called UArts where the artisans are community members. I work Mondays and Wednesdays, and often pick up additional shifts. I so enjoy working there! I am very fortunate to be a part of an amazing community where I have friends,

a great city filled with lots of things to do, and have an awesome job! 

Recovering

I have struggled with depression my whole life, was on a lot of meds which contributed to my depression , until finally i went to silver hill hospital in new cannan and got some things changed with my meds. I am so happy i went to silver hill because if i didn’t I don’t think I would be standing where I am today. I am a much different person now that I got one of  my meds lowered!  I use many diverse words and speak clearer and i am a overall different person..  I haven’t felt depressed since 2018 and have never looked back since. I am very happy with my life, and will continue to live a happy life.