Annie, 18 years old, NJ | 8 DAYS WAITING

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Annie is a brave young woman who escaped a difficult situation with her mother, where she and her autistic younger brother faced abuse. Now, she deals with panic attacks, trouble sleeping, low self-esteem, anxiety, and PTSD from their past experiences. Annie attends therapy groups, where she finds support from others who understand what she’s been through. She has made new friends there. For their safety, Annie and her brother live with their dad, who has set strict boundaries to keep their mother away. She takes on a lot of responsibility as a caregiver for her brother while her dad works when he can. Balancing everything is tough for both of them as they try to take care of him. Annie also volunteers at different organizations, which gives her a sense of purpose. Family time means a lot to her, and she loves playing games and cooking Spanish food with her brother and dad. In the future, Annie dreams of traveling and exploring new places. She enjoys arts and crafts and is learning makeup skills to earn some extra money while she goes to college. She wants to study nursing or social services so she can help others in tough situations, just like she experienced.

Annie wants to get her driver’s license. This is important for her because it will help her drive herself and her brother to school and give her a sense of independence during a tough time. She lives with her dad and has many responsibilities at home while also taking care of her own mental health. To cope, she goes to therapy groups, volunteers at different places, and enjoys cooking and playing games with her dad and brother. Annie dreams of studying nursing or social services because she wants to help others. Getting her driver’s license would make her feel more hopeful and happy as she steps into adulthood.