Destiney, a Girls Inc. of New Hampshire alum, began attending Girls Inc. at just 5 years old.

My sister and I were being raised by a single mother who struggled with drug addiction. While the addiction was a battle on its own, it also brought exposure to violence and other types of harmful abuse. Before Girls Inc., this was the only life I knew. Living with a parent who is an addict and experiencing abuse in all forms at such a young age was a heavy burden to bear, but the moment I walked into Girls Inc. every day I knew in my heart that I was safe, loved and promised a life full of potential. My home life may have been the perfect recipe for failure, but because of Girls Inc. I can genuinely say it never even crossed my mind that failure was an option I spent my entire childhood and most of my teen years, year-round, at Girls Inc. It was there that my potential was nurtured, my confidence was built, and I was gifted with more unconditional love and support than any girl could hope for to succeed. Though the struggles with life at home persisted throughout my school years, the strength and life skills that I gained at Girls Inc. paved the path to success that without them I wouldn’t have even known was possible. After high school, I went on to apply to 11 colleges and got accepted to every single one. When the misfortune of problems at home persisted into my college/adult life I was able to overcome the giant obstacles placed on my path and pursue other opportunities for success with resilience, confidence, and faith in myself and in my future. It was then that I discovered that all of the things I had learned and experiences I had at Girls Inc. did not just guide me through my childhood, but would carry me through my life as a woman. From that time, I moved forward to achieve my nurse assisting license and pursue a career in the medical field where I have earned awards and special recommendations. Currently, I am living in sunny San Diego, California where I volunteer as an advocate and mentor for young girls and women and am continuing my education in the medical field with my husband and our baby boy at my side. I am living the life I dreamed of, and my heart fills more each day as I am granted endless opportunities to be the type of positive role model and advocate that I came to know and grow into at Girls Inc.