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Stories of Hope: Meet Priscilla
 Last week, Priscilla graduated from our Rights of Passage. The ceremony was one of the year's best events and we will honored to have Priscilla speak during the graduation. In addition to her amazing story, she even performed 'I believe I can fly' with her rommate, Laura, to close out the graduation. Below is she speech from the ceremony: Good evening my fellow graduates, ladies & gentlemen, staff & coordinators of The Covenant House NY. My name is Priscilla, a fellow graduate of the ROP Sixth Floor Single Females Unit. I am honored to be chosen as a speaker for tonight, and I thank you for this opportunity. I’d like to share my experience and gratitude of Covenant House NY with you. In May 2008, I found myself without a job and I no longer had money to pay rent for my room. It was a very difficult time for me. I felt alone, lost, desperate, and sad. It was tough for me, as a teen, being homeless. Thankfully, a friend told me about the Nine Line of Covenant House. Because of me making this contact, I was able to come to Covenant House NY to have a roof over my head, shelter, a safe place and food so I could now focus on what to do next. Although we all have different reasons which led to us being here, I’m sure that we are all very grateful for the shelter Covenant House has given us. It isn’t just a shelter for me; it’s become a place that I can call home. Now that my basic needs were being met, I was able to take time to figure things out and to take advantage of what the program had to offer. I could get down to business. I knew I wanted to find a new job and to save up enough money to rent my own apartment as soon as I could. At Covenant House, my case manager has been like a mother to me. And even though she seems critical and harsh sometimes, I know that it has been for my own good. With good intentions she pressures me to always improve and to stay persistent. I can’t lie – my loving case manager, Ms. Genevieve and I have had our differences – especially when it came to my budget. But through this tough love, I have learned to save more money than ever. Thank you Ms. Genevieve – on behalf of me and all the Sixth Floor females, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know that we are all truly grateful to you and all the case managers who have been so caring and loving to us. Covenant House NY has not only prepared me for the real world out there – it has taught me to never give up on my dreams. And that even though I might be side-tracked at times, as long as I keep focus on my goals and my dreams, and I stay persistent, I will achieve any and everything I want to. Today, I have a job that I like. I am treated with respect. I make good money and I have saved up enough money to find my new apartment. I say to Covenant House NY – it is a blessing to us teenagers transitioning into adulthood that we have a place to get the help we need. For those of you here that will be staying for a time, – congratulations and take advantage of the resources here and may God bless you as you further out into the world. And for those of you who might still be struggling or abusing and trying to make the transition, I encourage you to use these resources – and to take the advice of the workers here – who get on your case …constantly – that there are positive changes that you can see and that you can make – And they will be beneficial to you. Because of me being able to take the time and to take advantage of this program with all its resources, I am now moving into my own apartment. Next, I am going to get back into college where I will focus on a career in Communication Disorders – as a Speech Pathologist. This is all become possible because of my time at Covenant House NY and my own hard work to reach these goals. Thank you for your time today.
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