Overcoming Adversity: Brianna's Journey to Success with Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services

We want to share her heartwarming story with you. Brianna was raised in a complicated household marked by substance abuse and domestic violence. Despite the turmoil, she found solace in the church, where her grandmother would often take her and her sister. As she navigated the complexities of her upbringing, she refused to succumb to the cycle of trauma that plagued her family for generations. 

“I am not a victim of my circumstance. I know how to triumph over what I had to go through,” says Brianna with a smile. 

As Brianna went on to go to college, she discovered Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services’ Transitional Living for Youth program while on school break. She needed a place to live and had nowhere else to go. In December 2023, Brianna graduated with two associate degrees and a bachelor’s in social work. Despite experiencing the significant loss of her mother and father, you would never guess it from her demeanor. Her radiant smile and resilient spirit overshadow all the pain she has endured. 

Brianna’s journey is a testament to Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services’ transformative impact and resilience of the human spirit.