ANGELIQUE ROE / I WILL OVERCOME

"I learned that no matter how great the adversity, I will overcome."

Angelique Roe shares #HerStory for #SpeakUp:

"I think the worst part of being in the system was the beginning, when I still believed that it was all a mistake, a misunderstanding. Back when I believed my dad when he said it would just be another week, another two weeks, another month and he would come for us. Any other terrible experience I encountered during my time in foster car was dulled because I became a survivor, adaptable, someone who could compartmentalize her feelings to get through the situation at hand. So none of it affected me the way I was affected in the beginning. Nothing was as bad as having my hopes crushed the next week, the next two weeks, the next month, until finally I stopped believing that anyone was going to come.

The foster care system taught me that I am resilient. It showed me that I can adapt to and survive whatever hardship is thrown my way. It strengthened my independence and broadened my perspective on life.

For those in the system now, I want to share the quote that I live my life by, 'I never want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me.' So find a way to turn your weaknesses into strengths and be in the drivers seat of your own life. You can't always control the things that happen to you, but you can control the way you react to them."