Hopelessness, High School, and the Adults Who Helped Me Trust My Strength

Feeling Broken but Finding My Strength: My High School Survival Story and the Adults Who Earned My Trust

If you ever felt like you had to grow up too fast, I want you to know—you’re not alone.

I know what it’s like to feel like you have to handle everything by yourself. While other kids were going to school and hanging out, I was working long hours, trying to pay rent, and doing homework in between shifts. Some nights, I had to choose between buying food and putting gas in my car. I believed that there was an unspoken expectation that I had to survive on my own. I felt hopeless, broken and invisible. I lived a secret life that no one saw. But I made it through. And you can too.

Adults Will Support You – Even if They Aren’t Your Parents

I knew there were adults who cared, but I didn’t know who I could trust. I felt like I had to be perfect to accept their help. And I wasn’t perfect. I didn’t think anyone would really be there for me. But then, some people surprised me.

I did not have a stable home life. My parents did not reach out to me to repair our relationship so I did not feel that I could call them and ask for help. There were other adults that I could have turned to such as my school choir director, sports coach, church members, extended family, and even my best friend’s mom. But it was my school counselor, grandmother, and coworker who were the adults who helped me. 

During my senior year of high school, just days before Christmas, I was kicked out of my home. I had only a few hours to pack my things and wait outside for someone to pick me up. I had to find other places to stay. I was going to high school and nursing school at the same time, but I couldn’t afford rent and school. Eventually, I had to let go of my dream of becoming a nurse. Instead, I went to high school for half the day and worked the other half. I had no safety net. I had to take care of myself.

I went to my school counselor who told me I could check the “homeless” box on my financial aid form to get more help with college costs. It was a small thing, but it made a big difference. My grandmother, whom I didn’t see often, let me live with her for a while. I didn’t know she cared so much until I asked for help—and she showed up.

The biggest support came from someone I met at work. She was ten years older than me, and we became close friends. She got an apartment so I could live with her. She made me part of her family. She listened without judging me, let me make mistakes, and still loved me. She helped me believe in myself again. Because of her, I learned that some adults can be trusted. I learned that I am worthy of love. I started dreaming again because I knew someone believed in me.

Learn to Love Yourself

I used to feel broken. I thought I was the problem—that I would always let people down. For a long time, I believed I had to be ashamed of who I was. I wanted love and space to grow—the kind every child deserves and shouldn’t have been left to take on the world alone. It took some time, but I learned that I could have more for my life.

Your Story Matters

When I was ready, I started moving toward my dreams. I found my voice and realized my story mattered. It helped me understand others and feel compassion for people going through hard times. School gave me the confidence to speak up and work toward helping others—especially those who feel silenced.

I learned that resilience is a kind of superpower. It helped me keep going, even when things were tough. Now I use that strength to show young people that they are not alone. You can go through hard things and still build a life full of hope, love, and purpose.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask For Help 

If you’re going through something hard—if you feel lost or scared—reach out to adults you can trust. If you have parents or guardians you are comfortable reaching out to, please do. They may not know that you feel alone, worried, or hopeless. Your parents/guardians might be the ones who surprise you. Maybe you need different adults like I did; if so, look to extended family, teachers, coaches, religious leaders, mentors, and others. And when the unexpected people show up for you, let them. You still deserve love and to dream. You can still laugh. You can still rest. You will find people who care about you. You can build a life that feels safe and happy. Making mistakes is part of growing up. You are not broken; you are proving that you are a survivor.

I’ve been where you are. I see you. I believe in you. You are not alone.

Most importantly…you do not have to be perfect to be worthy of love.

This article was written by Morgan Tamayo. Morgan is an army combat veteran with her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Tampa and her M.A. in Applied Sociology from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Family Sciences and Human Development from Montclair State University.