Friends

I used to party, drink and do drugs every weekend. Sometimes we’d even party on weeknights. That’s just what me and my friends liked to do. It helped us to open up and connect with each other. I lived with one of the girls I partied with and she was supposed to be my best friend.

Then I found out that I was pregnant. Me and my boyfriend lost all of our friends and I lost my place to live. She made up lies about me. She, her mom and some of my “friends” told me that my child was going to have down syndrome, that I’d never be able to support her and that I’d be doing her a favor by getting an abortion.

Before my daughter I was selfish, careless, and stupid. I worried about what my friend’s thought, how I dressed, and how much money we had for the weekend. I’ve been clean since I found out. I worry about being a good role model, what kind of person I want her to be and how much homework I need to do in order to graduate.

I have a lot better friends now then they ever could have been.  My daughter was born perfectly healthy. She is the most beautiful, innocent, little creature that I’ve ever met and I will always put her happiness before mine. I have lost, but I’ve gained a whole lot more than I ever thought I deserved.

– Taylor Bridge 

Becoming A Teen Mom

Becoming a teen mom at the age of seventeen I was faced with many conflicts that people my age would not have to experience later in their lives. Becoming a young parent forced me to give up my teenage way of life and grow up a lot sooner that I was expected to. I lost many friends along the way, mainly because I had lost much of my freedom and had to prepare myself for motherhood. However, even though I gave up my teenage life, I gained a son and I wouldn’t change anything about him or my new life. Once I became a parent I gave up my bad habits with marihuana and alcohol and grew into a responsible young adult.

Before I became pregnant with my son, I was in a group home my whole teenage life and was teased for being in there. People would say I had bad parents and they would call me a “groupie”. I was usually labeled as a Bad Kid simply for the reason of me being in a group home. As a child, I was sexually assaulted from my step mom’s dad and my father was stabbed five times from my “ex-step-mom” boyfriend. I was traumatized  and it took a lot of time to open up about both situations. But in the long run, I’ve learned to deal with handling my emotions and feelings in a positive way. I’ve learned my strongest qualities and learned to use them in a way that I would benefit from them. Every situation made me stronger, courageous and accepting of life’s challenges.

– Anonymous 

Challenges I Have Faced

When I first got to Quebec not knowing French and being at a new school where everyone spoke French was extremely scary for me. When I got to the school everyone whispered things to each other in French and laughed. I didn’t know if it was about me or not, but it made me feel uncomfortable. Once when I asked a person, “how do you say if I could go to the washroom”, they would tell me something totally different and then I would go and tell the teacher the way they had told me to say it, and everyone started laughing. At that moment I knew that what I had said was not what I was really trying to say. It made me very embarrassed; to the point I never when back to school. I just decided to skip all the time. I wish sometimes people would have respect towards people who are just trying to learn and trying to have a better life. I believe people should not be put in spots that will make them feel lower.

– Anonymous 

Artwork By Zoey Wilcock

Artwork above by: Zoey Wilcock

Artwork By Katherine Belcourt

Artwork above by: Katherine Belcourt

Artwork By Chantelle Brace

Artwork above by: Chantelle Brace

Artwork By Savanna Sa’vard

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Why Do You Put Me Down?

Why? Why do you put me down?

Am I not the same as you?

Here I am trying to make it thru

Do you even know my name?

Or am I just someone who you like to shame?

You laugh and joke as I pass you by.

Do you know that every night I cry.

I cry because of the things you say

And I know deep down, things will always be this way.

I try and look forward to the future

But it is hard when day to day life is torture.

Do you enjoy your friends, because I have none,

I think my own mom is embarrassed because I am her son.

I wish I could do things like you

But instead, I just look like a fool,

I do things I can’t control. And because of that

I hide like a mole.

Do you enjoy going out to a fancy dinner?

I’ve never gone because I have a jitter.

Before you judge me, know who I am

I am not my twitches and outbursts

That is just a part of me.

So I’ll as again, why do you make fun of me?

– Anonymous

Artwork By Michelle Benio

Artwork above by: Michelle Benio

Artwork Anonymous

Artwork above – Anonymous