Finding Hope After Abuse: Mia’s Path from Darkness to College Dreams
At just 14 years old, during the height of COVID, Mia’s world was turned upside down. What began as a relationship with a boyfriend quickly turned into manipulation and exploitation. He told her that if she truly loved him, she would “be with” his friend—what she didn’t realize at the time was that her boyfriend was being paid to traffic her.
Mia grew up in a single-parent household. Her mother worked two, sometimes three jobs to make ends meet, which left little time for supervision at home. Under immense financial strain and without consistent parental guidance, Mia didn’t fully understand the depth of what was happening to her.
Over time, her mother noticed painful changes. Mia was slipping into depression and had started cutting herself. Fearing for her daughter’s life, she searched for help and found A Child’s Light. Within just one week of reaching out, Mia was connected with a trauma-informed therapist.
For more than a year, Mia worked closely with her therapist. In those early sessions, she revealed that she had once dreamed of going to college—but after her abuse, she no longer believed she had a future. She had become so hopeless and suicidal that the thought of higher education felt impossible.
Through consistent therapy and support, Mia began to heal. Her therapist not only worked through the trauma but also helped reignite Mia’s passion for education. Together, they took practical steps—reviewing applications, completing paperwork, and navigating the process of applying to colleges.
That spark turned into a reality. Mia began receiving acceptance letters, and today she is a proud university student majoring in Criminal Justice. Her goal? To join the FBI and dedicate her life to fighting against human trafficking—turning her own painful past into a mission to protect others.
This is the power of timely intervention. Because her mother found A Child’s Light, Mia received life-saving therapy when she needed it most—and now, her future is filled with hope and purpose.
