by Faith, San Mateo
About a month and a half ago I got a call from my social worker. She was trying to sound all nice and was like, “You’re not going to like the news I am about to give you, but I have no choice, we are taking you out of your father’s care.” I remember sitting all quiet because I had no words. She asked me if I was okay, all I said was, “I don’t want to talk.” I hung up automatically and broke down. I couldn’t even talk; I was crying so much I couldn’t breathe. It felt like the world was ending. After, I called my dad and grandma and asked them if they knew. They said they didn’t and when I told them, they were mad. This was all new to us because we had it in our heads that I was going home. For a while after the news my mindset was messed up. I started to not try anymore. I had a “I don’t give a eff” attitude. It’s still somewhat like that, but not how it was at first. I finally told my auntie about the whole situation and she was hella mad. The first thing she said was, “uhuh, you’re not going with no stranger give me your social workers number.” My social worker talked to me later that week and told me she was impressed with how strict my auntie sounded and how she stepped up for me.
A few weeks later I got a new social worker but after two weeks my old and current social worker was placed on my case again. Currently, they are starting the assessment so that I will be able to be with my auntie.
My dad and my grandma want to give guardship up to my aunt because it will speed up the process. Instead, my social worker is trying to get the process expedited so my family doesn’t have to go through that.
I have thirty days left in here (juvenile), but I can get out earlier if they have a placement for me before my time is up.
Anyways when I got locked up the first time my auntie wanted me to come live with her. It never happened though because of course; I was on probation. My probation
officer thought it wasn’t a good idea for me to go to (Las) Vegas because I wasn’t doing good at the time. I’ve always wanted to move out there, so now I’m excited that I’m getting what I want.
I’m going to miss a lot in the Bay Area though. I’m definitely going to miss my family out here. I know it’s going to mess with me because I’m not going to be able to see my grandparents and dad as much as I would want to. I know I’ll still be able to see them once a month but it’s not a lot compared to when I was living with them. I’m going to miss the people I call friends, the people that wrote to me and stayed by my side the whole-time I’ve been in here.
I’m also going to miss my therapist because she’s been the one to help me heal from my trauma and what I’ve been through. She does things she doesn’t need to do; she always goes above and beyond for me; she’s been with me for a while.
I’m not going to miss the cold weather because I kind of like Vega’s weather.
I’m definitely not going to miss the petty drama.
Lastly, I will not miss probation.
When I move to Vegas, I will be terminated, a full free woman. This will be better for me because I will be able to do more things. When I go to Vegas, I’m looking forward to graduating so I can go straight to cosmetology school. I’m looking forward to seeing all the family I couldn’t go see while I was on probation. I can’t wait to see my little cousins and be able to spoil them, I want to be there for my auntie and make her happy. This is going to be a fresh start for me, to show that I have changed, and I will continue to do good and grow. (To be continued)