Take Wing Testimonial

I was born and raised in the Philippines in my early years of childhood, and I can remember all the struggles and lifestyle experiences I faced living in one of the poorest streets of Manila, Quezon City. I saw a lot of things that I shouldn't have seen within my family or neighborhood. I did not have a father when I was born, and my mother did her best to have a family with a man in the picture. So when she had my first sister and then second sister, she was getting married to a Navy man and they decided to move to California. My time came when my papers were passed and my mother was sending me to California. It was when I experienced America that my lifestyle changed from poor to rich. I had everything I wanted, and when my parents divorced, things slowly went downhill. I ditched school all the time; I was a girl who lived the fast life thinking it was the good life. I had chosen the wrong friends; I chose to party more than educate myself in school. After I got kicked out of my mother¢s house at the age of 18 I slowly began seeing my patterns and challenged myself to do better. Even though I was still struggling to change, I reconnected with my mother and she took me back in. Just in case, my mentor Mark Blackshear a former Take Wing Service Partner mentioned to me the opportunity I could have when I was ready. As I was focused on working and being in school, I decided to do something different, and that was to discover my purpose in life.

When I was 20 years old I moved out of my mother's house and lived at two of my friend's house back and forth. Life wasn't easy and I began to have a hunger for a better life as being a responsible young adult who could change her bad habits and prove everyone wrong. It was when I was accepted into Take Wing my life began to start for me. I appreciated life more and began to understand how to be responsible for my own actions. I was making better decisions more than ever before, and I found love again with using my gift, which was encouraging. I began to see I had a passion for being the Newsletter Chair; being a voice that could be heard by my peers and Community Youth Development Board members. As I made victories in my personal life, I was determined to show efforts through putting my heart into Take Wing. Take Wing has always been a home that I will never forget, and never be ashamed of because I was always kept under its wing. It was like I was meant to pass through here and use this program as my foundation to building my ladder to success. I will always thank Take Wing and those I spoke to because they truly were the ones who saw me grow as a person.

- Christine R.

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