Cynthia

Cynthia* grew up feeling “Worthless. Ugly. Molded.” These words were engrained upon her soul from an upbringing that shattered her confidence and kept her feeling small and insignificant. Raised to be a caretaker, she felt others were given permission to walk all over her. Cynthia knew it was time for a change – she couldn’t keep beating herself up based on her childhood and the way others treated her.  

Fresh Start opened a brand-new door for Cynthia right when she desperately needed support. After consulting with the Fresh Start team, Cynthia enrolled in various Personal Development workshops and the Personal Empowerment Series.  

“I spent years feeling despair and fear, hardly going a day without feeling crushed by my challenges and struggles,” Cynthia recalled. “I had to find my independence as a mother and a wife. And most importantly, I had to find my community of people who supported healthy coping skills and trusted my opinion on my own life.” 

Cynthia recalled that once she finally accepted that the patterns of people-pleasing that she was raised with were no longer serving her, she could finally reach out for help. It was then that she looked to Fresh Start to help create her new form of thinking. 

“Through Fresh Start, I learned how to take back my power by not giving away what was in my control, and I learned how to look at life through my lens, my spirituality, and my own views and values,” Cynthia remembered.  

Like a flower budding in the spring, suddenly, Cynthia’s personality and individuality shed its dark enclosure and blossomed in the light. She flourished under her new-found solid footing and discovered new opportunities and goals with Fresh Start’s aid. She tackled college, work environments, meeting new people, and feeling safe within her community.  

“I’ve finally learned that me – all of me – is deserving of love. Inside this shell, she’s beautiful, and I can say that with confidence today,” Cynthia stated.  

“I’ve realized that we’re all unique and designed to serve and help each other. And I thank you all for my fresh start.”