Yeni M. / The dark cloud above you won't last forever I promise there will be light.

"The dark cloud above you won't last forever I promise there will be light." Yeni Martinez shares #HerStory for #SpeakUp✨

Entering the Foster Care system at age 7 was the hardest thing I ever went through. I came across many challenges. Trusting a home, feeling excluded, mistreated and being let down was not easy. There were so many things that made me feel as if something was wrong with me because I was in a total of 22 different foster homes. It made a big negative impact on me and why I struggled with anxiety and depression. Living out of a trash bag with my belongings in it, as well as being separated from the only thing that was my family, which was my older brother, and we lost contact. I felt betrayed. But with all these challenges I managed to keep fighting for my life and future. I did it for the future me.

The advice I would give someone in the system now is to not give up. The dark cloud above you won't last forever I promise there will be light. You are worth everything in this life even if challenges happen. One day you will look at the past and realize that you are able to do anything you set your mind too. It's ok to ask for help. Life is not always easy but the future you is waiting to see what you are able to accomplish.

The Foster Care system taught me that I had to grow up faster than my peers. I'm mentally stronger than I think I am. When times are hard, you just have to push through it.

What I needed most when I was in the foster care system was HELP. A lot of things that were promised to me like resources or help, advice, someone to lead me and not leave me in the dark is what I needed most. Once I emancipated I was thrown out like every other child once they feel that's all they can do for me. I had to figure everything out and give up on my dreams to build myself up.