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The youth-written stories in Represent give inspiration and information to teens in foster care while offering staff insight into those teens’ struggles.
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Addiction (30 found)
Note: These stories are from Represent and its sister publication, YCteen, which is written by New York City public high school students.
But nobody else was going to help me, so I got myself clean—and into college. (full text)
I had to take care of my whole family as a teen, until CPS finally stepped up. (full text)
K.G.'s father died when she was 12 and she's remembered him as a loving dad and husband. But he abused her mom, which K.G. is slowly admitting to herself. (full text)
Olivia is physically abused by her father as a young girl and begins to dissociate when she remembers it. Dissociation also takes her away from her mother's alcoholism. (full text)
A.S. survives homelessness, abuse, and separation from her family by inventing fantastical stories about her life. She learns to make safer choices while remaining creative. (full text)
The author's mother was in and out of jail and addiction. She reappears just after the writer ages out of care. Hoping for a reconciliation, the author lets her mom move into her apartment. (full text)
The writer's mom was very abusive when she drank, and the writer went into care. Her mother slowly got sober, and the family was reunited, but it wasn't a happy ending. (full text)
In the third of K.G.'s stories, she evaluates all the interactions she had with child welfare workers around her mother's alcoholism. She turns her experience into useful tips for workers. (full text)
For years, the writer's father put alcohol ahead of his family. When he finally enters treatment, he and Jessica are able to connect. (full text)
A.H. interviews Kama Einhorn, creator of Karli, a new Muppet who's in foster care because her mom suffers from addiction. Kama explains how to explain addiction to very young children. (full text)
The author's mother abused him when she was drunk and high, and he went into care. An illness in their family makes him realize he'd rather forgive her than stay mad. (full text)
K.G. tries to counteract the terror of seeing her mother disappear into addiction and her discomfort when social workers show up in their home. The first of her three stories in the issue. (full text)
Alesha loses her way because of abuse, foster care, and addiction. Seeing her friends graduate inspires her to get her GED and then go to college. (full text)
Chantel is disappointed by a foster mother who seems great at first, but turns out to be an abusive drunk. It makes it hard for her to open up to anyone. (full text)
Because her mother is an alcoholic, Jzhamaine suffers abuse, neglect, and homelessness. After her mother gets sober and apologizes, Jzhamaine can forgive her. (full text)
A therapist explains how abuse and neglect can lead to isolating behaviors like fighting, cutting, substance abuse as well as more abusive relationships. She also gives practical tips for quitting self-destructive habits. (full text)
The author suffers from the death of her grandmother, her mother's mental illness and withdrawal, and going into foster care. Isaac, first her friend, then her boyfriend, supports her, but she drives him away with her cutting. (full text)
Hollie's mother dies from her alcoholism about a year before Hollie has a son. Hollie is determined to be a better mother herself. (full text)
Joy and her big sister were very close until her sister began smoking weed and drifted away from Joy. (full text)
The writer starts using heroin at 15 and quickly becomes addicted. Getting clean again is a struggle. (full text)
Antwaun becomes dependent on drinking and smoking weed to deal with painful emotions, but gradually finds ways to deal with life without being high. (full text)
For years, the writer's father put alcohol ahead of his family. When he finally enters treatment, he and Jessica are able to connect. (full text)
Edwin smokes his first cigarette at 12 and becomes addicted. Now he can’t go a day without smoking. (full text)
Priscilla remembers her father as an "awesome guy." They went to ball games, made model airplanes, and cooked together. That's why she misses him so much. He couldn't kick the cigarette habit and died of lung cancer when she was 9. (full text)
Four relatives who live with Trenee are smokers, and she's sick and tired of smelling like an ashtray whenever she leaves the house. Her father continually warns Trenee never to smoke, but he's got nothing to worry about. (full text)
After years of rejection from her father, Tameara finally learns that the reason he is so absent is because he is a crack addict. (full text)
Gia’s been depressed all her life. In therapy, she learns to express her emotions and begins to emerge from her personal darkness. (full text)
The writer turns to his two old pals when it comes to celebrating holidays: a bottle and a blunt. (full text)
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