My Life, My Words: From hardship to hope
I was born in the Bronx, the oldest of five children. It wasn't an easy life.
There were drugs and alcohol in my household, and when I was 10 years old, my mother committed suicide. By the time I was 13, there were a lot of secrets in our house that no one wanted to talk about. It was easier to drink alcohol than to face what was happening.
I had a wonderful great-grandmother who held things together for us, but for the most part I was taking care of my four younger siblings.
My first arrest came when I was 21 years old. That led me down a road of drugs and prostitution and some of those same things brought me to Rochester more than 20 years ago.
Things in Rochester didn't get better for me. I ended up in a relationship that was abusive.
I got abuse mixed up with love.
Things got worse. I was in and out of recovery and my depression was getting worse, and I couldn't make things work. I tried to commit suicide in 2012.
I was tired, but God had other plans for me.
I was at Unity Hospital for two weeks and then went to Serenity House for six months to get better. It was a wonderful place and they helped me, but I knew I wasn't ready to be on my own yet. I was still trying to manage my depression, and I knew finding and managing an apartment on my own would be tough.
That's when I learned about the supportive living program at the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County. It's a place for women in recovery who are making the transition to independent living.
I lived at the YWCA for a year.
I was mad at first. I had to go to group meetings and share with other people.
But it helped.
At the YWCA, I learned about taking responsibility for my own life. I learned about being accountable. I learned about managing a household. I learned I don't need to be afraid to be alone. I learned how to make friends.
I learned how to stand up and live.
I can honestly tell you that I don't know where I'd be today if I didn't come to the YWCA.
Today I'm living on my own, managing my own household. I'm working on my resume and working with a job coach now. I want to be a productive person. And I want to help people.
I wouldn't be where I am today without the YWCA. I know my journey isn't complete. I know there is more to do.
Brooks shared her story at the YWCA's Empowering Women luncheon on Oct. 2. She credits her YWCA counselors for showing her how she can stay connected while living on her own.