Self-Intended Death

There's an invisible uprising of tragic events among homeless youth. But the main one is the suicide rate among youth who classify as LGBTQ. More and more people are coming out and claiming themselves as “different” from the general public. Since it isn’t a part of the “norm” in the world many of these people are shunned away, ridiculed, bashed on, murdered, or ends up killing themselves. The day to day struggle of being LGBTQ and homeless has a great impact that can ultimately take over their everything. One of the main causes of this though is that they have no support. Most of the time their families or friends don’t want to deal with them or act funny-style. Some even get kicked out. When they end up on the streets, they have nowhere to go and no one to talk to so they only have themselves. For some that’s too much to bear. A major effect of this situation can lead to mental health problems and medical problems. As the years progress and they get older and the problems get harder, the pool of resources tends to dwindle down next to nothing. This is a story of someone who has experienced this issue

“ I grew up with my mom in Brooklyn. I came out to her when I was 15. She wasn't happy with it. My friends told me it takes two years for your parents to get OK, but two years went by and she still wasn't OK.

She attached all the negative stigmas to being gay. Doing sex work, having AIDS. She was always saying I was going to get AIDS. I wasn't even sexually active! I didn't lose my virginity until this year. I began doing research on transitioning. When I told my mom, she said, "I gave birth to a boy, not a transvestite." She wasn't cool with it and got more and more angry.

One day she said she was going to leave me. I thought she was joking, but three days later she packed up and moved. She told me I had to vacate the apartment that day, and left me $40. I was so shocked!

For the last six months I have been waiting for a shelter bed to open up. I walk all over the city at night until I get really tired, so I can hope to fall asleep on the subway. I try to sleep on the trains until the workers throw me out.

It feels horrible to live like this. You feel like you have nobody on your side. You think of your mom, and you think of someone always on your side. I try not to think about it because I'm like, "Oh my God!" I try not to get down when so many people are already down on me. I try to be inspirational.

I'm going on job interviews and am working on my music. I want the world to see who I really am. And when I get a lot of money, I want to open a drop-in center for other kids.” (Homeless LGBT Youth: The Next Battle For Equality 2012-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/homeless-lgbt-youth-equality_n_1331171.html ).

Babies Pushing Babies?

Teenage mothers…a stigma well known and far from grace. Many people have their opinion on this but in reality it is an issue. One that’s been around for a long time. It wasn’t always like that though, back in time it was custom to get married young and have a child. But times have changed; now the law forbids underage sex and marriage. It’s seriously looked down upon. There are many different factors that come into play considering this situation but to most none of them make a difference.

Teen pregnancy is a heavy burden. One of the many reasons it happens is the fad of under aged and unsafe sex. Society considers young parents to be inadequate parents. Young mothers are “hoes or blinded by love.” Young fathers are for the most part, considered “deadbeats.” Over recent years statistics have dropped but the USA still holds the highest rate of teenage pregnancies and teen births in the world.

Some current statistics say:

•  8 out 10 teen pregnancies are unintended
•  3 in 10 young women in the U.S. will become pregnant at least once before age 20
• Over  80% to unmarried teens
• Adolescent pregnancy costs the U.S.  more than $7 billion each year
• 820,000 teens become pregnant each year
• The main rise in teen pregnancy rates is among girls younger than 15
• Close to 25%  of teen mothers have a 2^nd child within 2yrs of the 1^st birth

There are many things being done to help solve the issue. As of today 5/2/2012 is the 11^th annual national campaign to raise awareness and support of effective teen pregnancy prevention. The month of May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.   Personally I think it’s a great idea. Although it can’t stop early pregnancy it can surely grasp people’s attention.

In my case it makes me think of how I don’t want my 14 month old daughter to become a teen mother. When I was little I never wanted kids, it was never a goal in life. I wanted to be “independent,” I never thougt it would happen to me. That was a stereotype I promised myself I would never fall under. Oh but how quickly that was short lived, just 4 months after I turned 18 I found out I was 6wks pregnant. Earlier in that year I dropped out then later got my GED. Right after I got the big news i had been waiting for, I found out I was accepted into Year Up for class 6. So I had a choice to make....one that would change my life forever. And that decision has changed my life.

  

I’m a young mother, something I thought would never happen to me. Isn’t it funny how life throws curveballs at you? You have certain things set in mind but nothing goes 100%, I guess the real test is how you choose to adapt and overcome. Work with what you have to make a  positive difference. Being pregnant not even 6 months after I turned legal was such an unbelievable thing. It brought a lot of doubt and judgment. A good handful of people from strangers, friends, and even family didn’t understand or some not even wanting to know my pain, my thoughts, or my story. All they saw was "a girl that looked 14" with a big belly and no hope. But they forgot something whether I was a kid or an adult, I’m still a person. As well as all the other young parents. Humans with equal rights and feelings, more than capable to educate ourselves on whatever comes our way in life.

They were wrong about me; I was and still am a woman. Just because I made mistakes in the past doesn’t mean I can’t change. I’ve always made my own path whether it was good or bad. I do my best to hold down everything and everyone that’s a part of my life. At first being young and pregnant seemed like a “bad” thing considering what I had planned for myself. But I’m happy with the decision I’ve made . I don’t regret it and never will. I carried my lil' Lovely for 9 months, spent 3 days in constant labor, and pushed for 2 and a half hours straight. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world. I want to build a strong foundation for my daughter...one that’ll inspire her to soar in life.

My 3 Promises

 I Corina Hill, PLEDGE as a student of YUBA, to strive to learn. I’m going to not just hear my class lectures but actually listen to them. To do my tasks with 110% effort and to complete them well before the deadline. Also to study hard and absorb as much as possible. Even though I love to learn, doing well in school was always hard for me. First it was out of my control but as I got older it became my responsibility and I really didn’t care anymore. Not realizing how it was going to affect me in the long run.

I PLEDGE to successfully complete the L&D phase so that I’m positively confident and ready for my internship. Everything that rises as an opportunity in these upcoming weeks will more than likely involve me as a willing participant. I know all the knowledge and experiences I gain now will help me to succeed with no fears what so ever .

I PLEDGE to graduate from the Year Up program. This is something I’ve been wanting for about 2 years now. So I’m not going to take it for granted. The last time I graduated was 8^th grade; I messed up all throughout high school and eventually dropped out. Three months later I got my G.E.D.  with no problem, I was asked to be a speaker at the graduation but I didn’t go. On top of that I went to my other high school’s graduation and felt so stupid for not taking care of my business. So now I’m doing everything I can to better myself and become an accomplished woman.

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