08/16/2022
Today I received one of the beautiful letters from an old student.
You may never know the true impact you have on a students life. I have been truly blessed the past 8 years working with some amazing students and families.
This letter represents why we at EMA do what we do every day! This young lady agreed for me to share her story. ❤️
I was adopted in 2013 at the age of 7. I, like many kids old enough to remember their lives before foster care, had some challenges. I wasn’t very good at expressing myself. I had outbursts and got in all kinds of trouble. When it comes to foster care and adoption, things like this are the reason older kids have trouble getting adopted. I was one of the lucky ones. For many years,I struggled but my new parents never gave up on me. They sent me to therapy, special camps (like pathway to hope) and so many other things to try and help me figure out my feelings. One of the most helpful of these things was sending me to EMA. I was in 6th grade and was having trouble in the public school environment. I was bullied and had no control over my feelings. They came out whenever which led me to make impulsive decisions and make things worse. Finally after one major outburst that resulted in me taking off, my parents took me out of the public school system and decided to try EMA. At first I was happy and hopeful “can this place really help me?” But then I started getting nervous and scared. What if it was the same? What if I was walking into the same thing or something worse? I remember vividly my first day at EMA. It was the Friday right before spring break, the second I walked into the school there was nothing but smiles and this incredible feeling of happiness and safety. All of the kids I met were very kind and inclusive. They introduced themselves right away and invited me to sit with them at lunch. I already had friends on my very first day. I continued EMA the next year(7th grade). There were some new faces and I was eager to give them a warm welcome like the one I had and at the end on my 8th grade year I was ready to go to public high school. EMA was nothing short of a miracle. The environment is amazing and the teachers incredible. They truly care for you. If you forget your lunch they’d figure it out and make sure you had something to eat. They actually listen to you and they help you with genuine Interest in how to help. EMA became my second home and the people there my family. After I had finished middle school my parents and EMA thought I was ready to go back to public school. I was happy I’d be able to go back and experience the high school life, but I was sad too. I didn’t want to leave EMA. It was somewhere I held dear and the idea that it wouldn’t be in my life anymore hurt. EMA has changed me for the better and I never not even once have I regretted going. EMA truly has a special place in my heart and always will. This school is part of who I am as a person. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be who I am today. This year is my senior and I am still in touch with everyone 3 years later. I may not go there anymore but they’ll always be my family and I know they’ll be there for me no matter what. I went from a little girl who ran away, hid under the desk and had many outbursts/ meltdowns to someone about to graduate with all A’s and a CNA certification. I was able to chase my dreams and its all because of EMA.
I am eternally grateful, LK
