When Abigail was in high school, she felt invisible. Her lack of connection led her to seek solace in substances, starting with marijuana. This led to her parents kicking her out of the house, and she started using cocaine every day. Alone and vulnerable, her life seemed to spiral out of control until she met a Youth Diversion counsellor.
This individual saw beyond the surface, recognizing a spark in Abigail that she could not see. It was this moment of understanding that marked the beginning of her transformation.
“I finished college, and now I work at school helping kids like me,” Abigail reflects, summing up her incredible journey from despair to a position where she can offer hope and guidance to others facing similar challenges.
In our community, stories of drug addiction and resilience, like Abigail’s, showcase the profound impact of youth homelessness and the transformative support from counsellors at Youth Diversion, a partner of the United Way KFL&A.
Youth Diversion focuses on aiding Kingston area youth with challenges like behaviour issues, substance use, schooling difficulties, trauma, and legal conflicts, providing direct care to around 1,400 youths and their families annually. Its programs support youths at various need stages through prevention, intervention, and reactive steps, with over 100 community members contributing thousands of volunteer hours each year.
Abigail’s story of resilience indeed shows the impact of these efforts. To ensure every young person can turn stories of hardship into hope and success, consider visiting our link to learn more and to support our cause.