Gracie’s Journey This Hispanic young lady has been through many ordeals in her 18 years. Yet somehow she can reflect back on the past and still giggle. Gracie came into foster age at age 13 for the second time. She experienced eight years of physical abuse at the hands of her family. After being beaten by a two-by-four, she fled to a neighbor’s house, then on to the police department, and then by ambulance to the hospital. The next day she was placed in a group home in Freeport. Unfortunately the aftereffects of abuse continued to haunt Gracie. She became suicidal, self-mutilating, and often ran away. “I was what you call the troubled child.” Gracie lived in so many places she can’t remember them all, but knew it was more than ten placements, not counting several hospitalizations. “I’ve been to just about every school there is.” This includes five different high schools. Yet still there’s determination in Gracie, and she graduated high school. Becoming an Adult By the time Gracie was 18, she was working as a waitress by night and going to school during the days. “I was so tired all of the time – sometimes I wanted to quit.” She was working her way through a local college to earn a certification in Medical Assisting when she decided to stop by the county shelter and show her previous case workers that she was doing something positive with her life. “Mr. T. told me about the HAY Center … I thought if CPS kids are going to be there that maybe I could find my brother.” “Aren’t you going to give me a hug?” Gracie found her way over to the HAY Center and was greeted at the door by whom else but her brother. “The first time I came here (The HAY Center), my brother was actually the one who opened the door for me. He was stuck. He looked so different it was hard to believe it was him.” Gracie had not seen her brothers in more than five years, and within days found both of her brothers. “They helped me lots.” While at the HAY Center, Gracie has participated in many workshops and activities. She participated in a paid internship, a foster parent training conference, youth leadership program, tuition assistance, and housing/food assistance to name just a few. “It wasn’t all about the benefits, it was all the encouragement which kept me waking up at 5:00 am to make it through school. They really helped me with lots of stuff. You don’t have nobody out there to help you – so this center is the help when I really need it.” The Future Gracie has already graduated from college with her certificate in Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy. From here she plans to continue her medical education. One day her dream is to help out other children by opening homes for them.