A young girl's triumph over a painful childhood…

Katie's childhood brings back distressing memories of difficult times; a home environment that was strained and stressful. Her relationship with her mother slid steadily into a sad and destructive cycle of anger, frustration and blaming. At just 12 years of age, Katie was so desperate to get away from home that she actually pleaded to be placed in foster care.

Her hopes turned to disillusionment as, over the next four years, Katie moved in and out of a succession of foster homes and detention centres. At 16, she abandoned school and her foster home. Before long, she was living on the streets and had turned to drugs. Angry, frustrated, scared, cold and hungry, Katie didn't know where to turn for help.

Luckily, she got involved with a community-based agency called Choices For Youth. Choices provided Katie with supports and services to help stabilize her. Through a variety of programs and services, the agency helped Katie to maintain a home in the community and address her education, employment, and addiction.

Even though Katie had all the support she needed, she was still not ready to meet her challenges in life. Her housing arrangements didn't last. She always ended up with nowhere to go, or in a shelter. She again turned to drugs and had to deal with the hard life that follows.

It took time, but eventually she decided to get on with making some positive changes in her life. She got involved with an educational program called Youth at Promise. It isa basic math and literacy skills program run by the Community Youth Network, where she was the first young person to fully complete the program. Katie now has a lot to say about the strides she has made and the sense of accomplishment she has earned.

"I have been a participant in a Skills Link Canada program called Youth Are Working, run by the St. Francis Foundation. We were partnered with Gonzaga High School so that the participants could complete in the same Career Pathways courses that they teach in that school. And, as a result of that, for the first time in Canada, we were all awarded four high school credits upon completion of the program."

Two years later, Katie comes across as a confident, well-spoken, charming young woman who has gained tremendous wisdom from all the challenges that life has thrown in her direction. "I'm happier now," she smiles. "And I'm going somewhere. I'm determined. All of my accomplishments have given me the confidence to go back to school. As of today, I am attending the College of The North Atlantic. I am going so that I can complete my high school. I am enrolled in the Adult Basic Education (A.B.E.) Courses at Level III. Then, I wish to complete The Child and Youth Care Diploma Course at Compu College. I know that this time I am fully prepared and I have the confidence to succeed. I know now that I can do it! And if I can, so can anyone else."