“Hanna doesn’t treat you like a box to check; they meet you where you’re at and help you, step by step.” – Emily, Hanna Residential Foster Youth
I’ve been in foster care for four years, and I’ve moved around a lot—different homes, different schools. I ran away from home when I was 11 and entered the system when I was 12. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned a lot about myself along the way. Four months ago, I came to Hanna Center. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but it’s turned out to be a place where I feel like I can breathe. It’s not just about rules; it’s about helping me figure out what works for me.
Embracing Accountability and Making Better Choices
Before Hanna, school was mostly an escape for me. I’d go just to get away from home or see my friends, but I didn’t really show up for my classes. Since coming here, it’s different. I actually go to class now, and I’m more involved than I’ve ever been. There’s a sense of accountability that makes me want to do better—not because I have to, but because I choose to.
Living in a group home here has also been a big change. At first, I was nervous, but now, I think of the other kids as siblings. We get into conflicts like siblings sometimes, but we also have each other’s backs no matter what. If someone messes up, we talk about it, we own up to it, and we move on. That kind of honesty and support is something I’ve never really had before, and it’s made me feel safer and more real.
Being Met Where I Am and Moving Forward
What really stands out about Hanna is that they don’t force things on you. They don’t treat you like a box to check; they meet you where you’re at and help you step by step. It’s not like other places I’ve been, where it felt like I was just part of a system. Here, I feel like a person. They listen, they care, and they actually try to understand what I need.
I’m starting to think about my future now. I want to be a mechanic—I’ve been working on cars with my dad since I was a kid. It’s something I love, and I know I can make it happen.
Being at Hanna has given me hope that I didn’t have before. It’s not perfect, and I still have hard days, but for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m on a path that makes sense for me.
With your support this holiday season, we can continue to Light the Way for young people like Emily, giving them a stable environment, essential services, and a community that feels like family.
