Des currently resides in San Antonio, Texas. She is a graduate of the Young Adult Leadership Council and is pursuing a bachelor of science in Nursing. Her goal is to become a nurse and be an advocate for youth with experience in homelessness and other systems-involvement. She is passionate about leadership and being an inspiration to her community.
Des recently worked with TNOYS on a blog post about her experience with homelessness when she was in high school and the support that could have helped her. Read her blog post below.
Back in my high school days, I knew kids that used to skip class, take drugs, sneak out with their friends, and fail classes with light consequences. For me, though, a fear of my mom and turbulence at home always led me to make straight A’s, attend every class, participate in extracurriculars, stay away from the wrong crowd, and you bet I was in the house when I was expected. But for my mom, it was never enough. And one morning, something as simple as missing the bus triggered abuse at home. Ultimately, this led to a series of snowballing events that ended with me becoming homeless while navigating high school at just 16 years old.
After the incident with missing the bus, one of my teachers noticed that something wasn’t right and I confided in her about what was going on at home. She called CPS, and my mom kicked me out of the house in response and threatened to report me as a runaway— using the threat of justice-involvement to control my next steps. Although there were a lot of questions from teachers at school, long uncomfortable meetings with CPS, and lots of time spent with the school’s social worker, CPS never removed me and put me into foster care. I didn’t want to go back home to a controlling and emotionally abusive environment and I couldn’t fall back on my mom for support, but I also knew that finishing school was my top priority. In order to graduate and finish high school, I had to couch-surf with friends and family.
Having all this going on while trying to focus on senior year, figuring out where I will live post graduation, applying to college, and attempting to maintain relationships took a serious toll on my mental health. Luckily, I had an amazing teacher and social worker that helped me navigate life. My health sciences teacher was the first trusted adult to know of my situation, and her classroom became a safe space for me. She encouraged me to use my voice, made me realize that it is okay to express my emotions, and she never made me feel like a burden. My social worker was also a caring adult in my life. One of the obstacles I faced was losing access to all of my important documents after abruptly leaving my mom’s house, making it difficult for me to apply for a job, college, and financial aid. My social worker helped me access all the documents I needed, and ensured I knew how to apply for college without my parents. However, I wish this support had gone a step further. I needed more guidance, mentorship, and support on topics like accessing financial aid, especially since none of my friends at school could relate to or understand my situation.
Looking back, I wish I had had a supportive adult to ask about my goals for college and the future, and even about my mental health. I also wish I had had a better peer support system to help me feel less alone and understand my options. Despite this lack of support from either adults or peers, I am proud to say that I was able to overcome many obstacles on my own. My recent milestones include being accepted into nursing school while maintaining a 4.0, learning how to drive, and becoming a certified nursing assistant.
After I graduate from nursing school in 2027, I want to use both my nursing degree and my experience on TNOYS’ YALC to advocate for vulnerable populations in my community. Working with TNOYS has taught me the importance of using my voice and what it truly means to be an advocate. Now, I have the confidence to speak up and advocate for others who may feel like their voices are not being heard. Moving forward, I am excited to use these skills and my own lived experience to advocate for others in my work as a nurse, whether that may be the homeless population, mothers in the labor and delivery unit, or survivors as a forensic nurse. Working with TNOYS on the YALC has shaped both my personal and professional life in ways I never could have imagined, and I am graduating from the program excited and hopeful for what’s next.