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Diana

 

Diana entered foster care at age 15 after attempting to commit suicide. Through the strength and support she received in foster care, she was able to overcome her depression and lead a life of happiness. She shares with us her moving story of how a little hope, help and inspiration can make all the difference in the lives of foster youths.

In Diana's own words

When I was one, my parents divorced. At three years old, my father died. My mother’s depression and medical issues drove her to dependence on medication and numerous hospitalizations. She had gone through numerous amounts of treatment, which included electric shock therapy and horrible withdrawals from prescription drugs, all the while having difficulty dealing with being a single parent. My older brother began abusing drugs as a teenager and was placed in a juvenile home. He continued to struggle with drugs and violence for years. When my oldest brother left to go into the Navy and my middle brother was taken away, my mother’s medical and emotional issues worsened.

As a teenager I began staying away from home more and more due to my mother’s mental illness. She was later diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. We were impoverished, depressed and co-dependent. As a teenager I could not see a good outcome to my situation.

At 15, I attempted suicide, ironically enough with an over-dose of anti-depressants. I was then hospitalized and evaluated by hospital staff to determine what type of treatment would best address my issues. While in lock-up I was exposed to patients who were severely mentally ill. At one point, I looked down the hall to see a women standing naked staring blankly back at myself and the hospital staff. This experience would stay with me as I knew that I did not belong there. I was, however, very depressed over the direction my life was taking. I had always done well in school and had aspirations of going to college, but I thought there was no way I would be able to pay tuition. I had also missed a tremendous amount of school. Later, it was determined that my mother inadvertently encouraged me to stay home with her so I was a year behind in high school.

A meeting with a judge and hospital staff concurred that it would be best for me to enter foster care and stay until I turned 18. I went through three foster homes. My case worker was wonderful, she was young and very empathetic to what I was going through. Even though it was very stressful to transition through three foster homes, I was very fortunate to have so many caring people involved in my case.

How foster care made the difference

My final foster parents really made an incredible difference in my life. They poured positive reinforcement on me and for the first time I was trying to live up to someone’s high expectations for me. They modeled what a normal family consisted of and how successful people conducted their lives. They set the bar very high for me, but I had never had so much hope for my future. Neither of my parents had graduated from high school. So, even when my foster parents helped me maneuver financial aid and the application process, I still couldn’t believe I would actually have the opportunity to go to college.

I graduated college with a bachelor's degree in history and eventually went on to graduate school to achieve a master’s degree in Adult Learning, Performance and Development with an emphasis on leadership. I am now a sales director for a communications company and an adjunct professor for courses in leadership at a local college. I have been married for 14 years and have three precious sons I feel immensely blessed to have in my life.

I wanted to tell you my story not because it was a horrible journey, but because it is a hopeful one. I was so fortunate in my life to have incredibly caring and selfless people trying to pick me up and lead me into a successful life. Foster care made all of the difference for me and if my story can help one foster child to have hope, dream big dreams and to love them self regardless of where they have come from, then it was worth the telling.

I think one of the best things we can do for foster children is to help them to understand that you are born into your family and you do not cause bad circumstances. However, you can control the person you become, and the path that you choose. A bright future can be created with a little hope, help and inspiration.