Growth Through Connection

I arrived at Spring Ridge Academy at 17, very much stuck inside the mind of a younger version of myself. I was lost, disconnected from the world, filled with self-hatred, and ready to give up. Underneath, I was drowning in anger, fear, and shame. The relationship with myself mirrored my relationships with others. I felt hatred and disgust towards my mother for so long that I could not remember loving her. I never grieved over my father’s death, and I looked to boys to fill my emptiness.

Today, I say SRA is where I grew up. It gave me a safe place to open up and learn to understand and feel my emotions. It was the hardest time of my life, and by far the most rewarding. I believe I would not be here today without this opportunity. I came to learn who I was beneath my emotions and life experiences. I uncovered love for myself that I had lost early in my childhood; I felt self-confident and whole for the first time.

I look forward to the challenges ahead, and continuing to have the courage to embrace new opportunities that come my way.