Your Story Matters
Hello, there! You’ve been on my mind. As a fellow former foster youth, I wanted to share some thoughts from my heart with you.
We are all living, walking, breathing stories in progress. My story began with the brokenness I was born into. As a teenager, foster care became a part of my story.
Outside influences made me feel as if I had to hide from my reality, to stay secretive about being a “ward of the state,” and to preserve myself by denying that truth. This caused me deep shame and crippling fear about being in the system, though it was due to no fault of my own. I was forced to hide from reality. You might find yourself also relating to this in some ways.
It took years for me to come face to face with the truth that my story matters. In order to make a difference in the lives of youth who are currently surviving what I lived through, it required of me to seek healing, truth-telling, and vulnerability in sharing my experiences.
Before I could get to that place, I needed to know that my story could change. I needed to know that my story wasn’t hopeless. I needed to know that my story could be used by God. I’m seeing this now.
You have had to withstand trials no child should ever have had to – and yet, you’re still standing today. You’re here for a purpose. There is gold in every piece of your story and I truly hope that you’re able to see that. We are truly so proud of you.
Wherever you are, whoever you are, and whatever you’ve walked through – I want you to know that you have a voice worth using and a life worth living. You’ve been so brave. Every single day that you’ve fought to survive and endure is a day worth celebrating. May this truth be stamped upon your heart: Your story matters.
“One day you will tell your story of how you've overcome what you're going through now, and it will become part of someone else's survival guide." –Brene Brown
Your friend,
Annika Marek-Barta
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