JADED Recovery Scholarship

Nine. It is an important age. Nine is the last year before you turn double digits. Your classes become more than just A, B, C, and 1, 2, 3. Nine is a developmental year. It is before everything changes. When I was nine, my life as I knew it fell apart. In short, my third-grade teacher and her husband, the pastor of a local church my aunt and uncle attended, adopted me. I went from seeing my brother and sisters every day to seeing them once every Sunday. I had to find my place in a whole new family all because of addiction. This can be challenging for a child that has not even found her place within herself. Both of my biological parents were addicted to prescription opioids. The first time it actually affected me, I was in 4K. My younger brother and I had to live with a foster family. We did not know these people, but we were together. We were eventually allowed to go back with our parents. Soon after, my little sister was born. I knew then I had to raise both of my siblings because my parents were unable to do so. I kept things afloat until I was nine. We were all three placed with my aunt and uncle. They also had two children. This became difficult for them to do, so we needed a new solution. We were each adopted into different families while in elementary school. However, I did not let this affect my grades, social life, or goals. When my adoption happened, I did not let it affect my grades. I began to push myself harder because school became a place of normalcy. I tested well on my state test and began to be in honors classes. This continued through middle and high school. I have taken many APs and honors classes. I have been able to accomplish this even though I did not have a traditional home life in my major developmental years. I have allowed myself to have a healthy social life. I have joined FFA, JROTC, 4-H, cheerleading, track and field, Interact, and NHS. I am also an active member of my church. Though my childhood started roughly, I have not allowed it to prevent me from being a very active participant in my school and community. Since I was a child, I have pretty much known what I wanted to do. I want to own and operate a small farm. I want to major in Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Clemson University, and I wanted to be a part of the military. These were my goals. They did not change when I was nine years old. These are still my goals. I am doing my best to make these happen. I have enlisted in the National Guard. I have also been accepted into Clemson’s Animal and Veterinary Sciences program. My life imploded, but I stayed true to what I wanted in the future. To conclude, I have done everything to exceed people’s expectations of me. Many people expected me to end up like my biological family. High school dropouts with no future, but I refuse. I will go to college and make something of myself. This experience with addiction as a young child has become my motivation. I was indirectly affected by drug addiction, but I will not let it be my future. My siblings and I are now thriving in our giant, beautifully mixed family. I would not change anything that happened because I have learned and matured into the young lady I am today.