By: April Mendez
Theresa Fitch is a high school junior born in San Jose, California. Her life used to be full of sadness and fear because of the emotional abuse she once faced.
Fear taught her many life lessons that she had to learn at a young age, which she benefited from and made her into a strong, young woman.
Both 2017 and 2018 were very difficult years for Theresa. Her life changed when she had to move in with her mom and her mom’s boyfriend. Before moving, Theresa was living in Bakersfield CA with her aunt. Living with her aunt made Theresa so happy because her aunt was her number one supporter.
However, her aunt couldn’t support Theresa anymore so she had no choice but to move in with her mom and mom’s boyfriend. Theresa moved to Sacramento where she would soon start her freshman year of high school.
Not too long after moving in with her mom and her mom’s boyfriend, she wanted to go back with her aunt because she was too scared to stay in Sacramento. Her mom’s boyfriend threatened Theresa by holding a bat right to her in front of her mom.
Her mom was so scared she didn’t even know how to protect Theresa. “I didn’t know who I was anymore,” Theresa said.
A few months after almost being physically abused, Theresa became depressed. One of her coping mechanisms was smoking, she first started to smoke in November 2017, which she got in trouble for. Theresa also started to have suicidal thoughts. Her life was full of negative thoughts.
Theresa found some better ways to cope. One coping mechanism was school. She found school to be a distraction from everything in her life that made her feel like life wasn’t worth living. “School was a big distraction even if I didn’t learn anything,” she said.
School kept her away from home and was a place she felt safe at. She also found company and companionship from her dog: “She’s always there for me, she’s my little companion.”
Theresa’s message is for everyone to speak up for themselves. She says, “A person can talk but not actually do anything, don’t always take a threat seriously.”
She also found hope from XXXTentacion. His music speaks to her in so many different ways. “His music healed me.” Theresa now knows that life isn’t always that bad.
Theresa was lost for a while but was able to find herself again because she never gave up and kept going, no matter how hard life gets. “There’s always a future.”
Theresa Fitch is a high school junior born in San Jose, California. Her life used to be full of sadness and fear because of the emotional abuse she once faced.
Fear taught her many life lessons that she had to learn at a young age, which she benefited from and made her into a strong, young woman.
Both 2017 and 2018 were very difficult years for Theresa. Her life changed when she had to move in with her mom and her mom’s boyfriend. Before moving, Theresa was living in Bakersfield CA with her aunt. Living with her aunt made Theresa so happy because her aunt was her number one supporter.
However, her aunt couldn’t support Theresa anymore so she had no choice but to move in with her mom and mom’s boyfriend. Theresa moved to Sacramento where she would soon start her freshman year of high school.
Not too long after moving in with her mom and her mom’s boyfriend, she wanted to go back with her aunt because she was too scared to stay in Sacramento. Her mom’s boyfriend threatened Theresa by holding a bat right to her in front of her mom.
Her mom was so scared she didn’t even know how to protect Theresa. “I didn’t know who I was anymore,” Theresa said.
A few months after almost being physically abused, Theresa became depressed. One of her coping mechanisms was smoking, she first started to smoke in November 2017, which she got in trouble for. Theresa also started to have suicidal thoughts. Her life was full of negative thoughts.
Theresa found some better ways to cope. One coping mechanism was school. She found school to be a distraction from everything in her life that made her feel like life wasn’t worth living. “School was a big distraction even if I didn’t learn anything,” she said.
School kept her away from home and was a place she felt safe at. She also found company and companionship from her dog: “She’s always there for me, she’s my little companion.”
Theresa’s message is for everyone to speak up for themselves. She says, “A person can talk but not actually do anything, don’t always take a threat seriously.”
She also found hope from XXXTentacion. His music speaks to her in so many different ways. “His music healed me.” Theresa now knows that life isn’t always that bad.
Theresa was lost for a while but was able to find herself again because she never gave up and kept going, no matter how hard life gets. “There’s always a future.”