“For 18 years, I grew up in the middle of nowhere, in isolation. I didn’t really have a childhood. I was homeschooled, but wasn’t learning anything. At 18 my mom left, and I enrolled in school. I did an online program and at age 20 I entered Discovery Alternative High School in Port Orchard. Most of all, though, I felt really alone until I met the Coffee Oasis.

I first heard about the Coffee Oasis from an outreach worker who was playing volleyball at Discovery. One of my teachers drove with me down to the Port Orchard Coffee Oasis and introduced me to the staff. That’s where I made my first friends in Port Orchard.

One of those friends was a guy named Zach. I would drive Zach home sometimes, but his home wasn’t a typical home. He lived in a truck with his parents, who were homeless. After a couple weeks went by I invited Zach to live with my dad and me. I was an only child so I became a lot more social when Zach stayed with us.

I learned a lot about the Coffee Oasis by living with Zach. Because of Zach’s influence I got even more interested in getting involved with the Coffee Oasis.

It was in the middle of that summer of living with Zach that he took his own life. After Zach died I found myself spending a lot more time alone.

There were a couple of things that helped draw me out of that depression and loneliness.

I remembered the community at the Coffee Oasis and missed it. They had become like family to me.

After Zach I had the opportunity to either give up or move forward. I chose to move forward and deepen my relationship with the support structure around me. So I got even more connected to the Coffee Oasis, even started a job training internship.

What does the future look like for me? I’d like to graduate from college with a degree in psychology. My new hobby is people. I like knowing what makes people tick.”

 

Your support is changing the world for many youth, showing them that they don’t have to be alone.