Kim’s story: Never give up
Kim went through a lot early in her life. Born into a family not wanting her, expelled from school with no qualifications, moved into care, becoming homeless, stealing and looking in bins to simply survive, experiencing domestic violence and wanting to end it all.
Fast forward to the present day, and she is leading a happy and successful life. She takes up the story on how, even if you’ve had or are experiencing difficult times, there is always hope:
“I’d always been told by family and professionals that I was worthless, that I was silly to think that I could ever be loved or accepted, and that I’d never amount to anything. Things like that could easily have shaped the rest of my life, and as a young person it did.
“However, the older I grew, I instead used it to give me the inner strength to prove them wrong, to change the way in which I saw myself and the life I wanted to give my children one day.
“I grew to love myself and appreciate the chance to improve my future. I learnt to not allow all the bad things and experiences in my past to decide my future or stop me moving forward. I didn’t just wake up one morning and suddenly everything was better – life just isn’t like that. It took a lot of soul-searching, plus hard work in changing my thought process.
“A big moment was realising that there are some things that you can’t control. It’s important to grasp those things that you can and make them what you want them to be. Life throws a lot of things at us, but we are in control of how we react to them.
“It’s never too late to turn your life around. I chose a career, including with Ongo Communities for over three years, mainly working with those from secure units and using my experiences to help them. I’ve now got qualifications (including a Level 7 Diploma in Life Coaching), I’m in a great relationship, I’m a proud mother of three wonderful children and I’ve also become a grandparent.
“Everything I’ve been through has helped me to support others, to show people that you’re never alone and that you can break the negative cycle. I am now living a life rather than existing, and I never say I’m a victim – I’m a survivor.
“You are worthy, you have a right to a good life, and you are in charge of how your life will be remembered.”
Kim’s story shows that there are opportunities for support and that things can get better.
If you can relate and are struggling, then we are here to help. We have a range of wellbeing, financial and housing support available to you. Click here to learn more.