I received a message yesterday from a young lady. I can vividly recall meeting her and her family. It was last summer and they were my last table. They were visiting NYC from West Virginia. It was the young woman’s 18th birthday. At the end of the night I have more free time and I talked to them for about an hour and a half. It wound up becoming somewhat of a therapy session. The young lady’s dad had upset her badly earlier in the week by getting on his Facebook and telling his followers that she’d be going to hell for having a nosering. Grandma, who had long ago stepped into the mom role and kicked her son to the curb as being a parent in this family, started talking. Then the young lady’s aunt, who by all three accounts said she treats her more like her sister, said the trip was for her to have a good time. I told that young lady she was going to be okay and that she has a great support system. I listened and let them get out their anger and sadness and told them how awesome it is that they are so close knit and that “mom and sister” should be very proud of how they have raised her.
She said she wanted to go to college and I probably don’t have to tell you that West Virginia is not exactly known for pushing kids onto the next level of education. I gave them my number and the young lady took my IG in case she ever needed any advice on anything with school and whatnot. I got her message and it was her telling me she got accepted into college and will be attending in the fall. Education is going to break the cycle her dad had put her on a path to joining. I can’t tell you how happy I am for this young lady to have a chance to realize her dreams!
Sometimes we get caught up in our own lives and all of the strains and stresses we find ourselves dealing with. You can read them right here in this thread. There are people here dealing with hell on earth emotionally. My heart hurts for the things I read here. It is in these times that reaching out to others can be helpful like many of you have done. That young lady and her family shared their life with me and I just opened myself up and told them to keep pushing forward each day. Now a few months later I get to hear that wonderful news. Some of you here will have moments in your own life where your own situations will allow you to help others really going through it. Know that what you are going through is not in vain and that when the time comes to help another person that needs it that you’ll be ready.