Ladasia had never been the type to ask for help, even when she needed it. And about a year ago, she found herself in real need of support.

Though she was enrolled in college, she barely attended classes because she was so busy working two jobs to support her family.

“I was depressed,” she remembers. “I wasn’t myself. I was just going through a lot … I wasn’t making good choices, I was working crazy hours.”

Fortunately, her college dean recognized that Ladasia needed help, even if she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She recommended that Ladasia look into moving into Mercy Home.

“She really thought it would be a good place for me,” Ladasia says. “She said she saw potential in me and that if I was at a place where I could have my head clear and I could really work and focus on myself, then I’d probably do better.”

Ladasia decided to take her dean’s advice and move into our Girls Home. But it took a while to adjust to her new environment.

“When I first came, I was still caught up in my own life,” she says. “So I wasn’t really focused on working on myself. I wasn’t trying to follow the rules. I didn’t know the staff and they didn’t know me.”

Ladasia knew another Mercy Home resident, a friend from school. Her friend was the only person she felt comfortable talking to—she wasn’t ready to let the rest of our Mercy Home family in. But with some encouragement from her friend, she decided to try opening up.

“Once I started to talk to people, I felt like I was having weights [lifted] off my shoulders,” Ladasia says. “Like all of my problems weren’t just mine and they really cared and they really wanted to help me.”

As Ladasia realized that our coworkers were at Mercy Home because they loved the work they were doing, she felt even more comfortable letting them get to know her. She also became more open with the other girls, and quickly found herself making friends.

Ladasia started taking advantage of all the volunteer opportunities Mercy Home provides, including a trip to Louisiana with some of our other young women to build a house with Habitat for Humanity. She also participates in many volunteer activities around our Girls Home.

“It’s just cool to feel a part of the community and that I’m not isolated anymore,” she says.

Ladasia has made big strides in her education since coming to Mercy Home. After spending a summer working at an internship, she is back in school and improving her grades. Without Mercy Home, she says, “I don’t think I would still be in school.”

And education is certainly going to be important for Ladasia to reach her goal of becoming a teacher at a preschool or elementary school.

“I have a lot of siblings and I think I’m good with kids,” Ladasia says. “I like kids and kids like me.”

Now, after a year at Mercy Home, Ladasia has found she is much happier—with where her life is taking her, and with herself.

“I have more friends, I’m a little more social than I was before,” she says. “I’m… more motivated to go to school.”

Thank you for being there for young people like Ladasia when they need it most. Because of your kindness, they are part of a network of support and care that allows them to work hard toward achieving their dreams. We are confident that with you by her side, Ladasia will certainly reach hers.