A Survivor Not A Victim

Published Oct 5, 2022
By: Sam Fuller

The first 17 years of Kendra’s life was nothing but struggle and survival. The adults that were supposed to protect her hurt and abandoned her. Rejected, Kendra turned on herself and others. She felt there was no way out. “It took a lot of failure for me to first recognize that I was the only one who could make the change, that I was the one in control of my future, no one else was going to do it for me,” says Kendra. Kendra found LSS through a truancy court order. She had just six high school credits to her name. Kendra worked through her past traumas with our therapist Meghan, and started to address the behaviors that prevented her from
living her best life. “I was pretty skeptical when Meghan started working with me, but I came to realize that I could trust her with everything bad that has happened to me and that she wouldn’t judge me.” Kendra now works full time at a sandwich shop, is a senior in the GED program and is planning to become a substance use
treatment counselor. She has her own apartment and is successfully managing her life.

“I am able to process my emotions. I am able to talk about my trauma. I am able to now live as a survivor instead of a victim.”

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In 2022, LSS will celebrate 140 years of service to Wisconsin and Upper Michigan residents. If at any time LSS made an impact on your life or the life of someone you love, please share it here.

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