Brianna- A Bridge for Kids Success Story

I am Honduran. My guerita hair and white skin leads people to believe I am a privileged, white individual. The shame that is flushed under my cheeks as I swipe the family food stamp card says otherwise.My mother has a gambling addiction that resulted from the death of her mom and suicide of her husband. My childhood consisted of sleep deprivation, tiredness, hopelessness, house infestations, insecurities, crowded rooms, different schools, eviction after eviction, prayers, and an experience that would open my eyes to the world. Unfortunately, I have been face-to-face with struggle itself. I have faced sleepless nights and felt the hunger that consumes the mind when there is not enough food on the table to feed a family of seven.My family doesn't know me as others know me. Their involvement in what I am passionate for seems to be trivialized as the days go by. I find my comfort within the hours of homework my IB teachers assign me and the constant battle to push my body to its limits as I work to excel in sports. I strive to be valedictorian so that I may inspire others to do as I have done.A Bridge For Kids has deeply impacted my life. With their support, I have grown to believe in myself. I felt very fortunate and blessed to be able to attend the East Coast Trip, where all my dreams became reality. I was able to see beautiful campuses, and the possibility of attending college inspired me to continue working hard in school. With my sponsorship money, I have been able to buy something as simple as kneepads for volleyball that will save my knees from great injury. My two-year-old running shoes needed to be replaced; and with the help of A Bridge For Kids, new ones now allow me to comfortably play my sports.It's always the little things that count. I know we can't change the world all by ourselves, but we can certainly change it one person at a time. I would love to thank A Bridge For Kids for accepting me into their family and making me feel so special and loved.