Hannah's Journey to a Brighter Future
At only 16 years old, Hannah was abandoned and homeless.
Life had been very tumultuous for her growing up. “I grew up surrounded by abuse [from my father]; I do not remember a time, even as a toddler, when he was not angry or causing physical or emotional harm to my mother and sisters.”
For many, home brings reprieve and stability from day-to-day life. For Hannah, her home only haunted her with memories of the abuse. Every day frightened her, not knowing when it would happen again.
When she was twelve, her father abandoned her family. The source of her abuse was gone, but her mother was left in shambles. Her mother steadily became dependent on other people for her financial and emotional needs.
Her mother decided to move in with her boyfriend in Illinois. She told Hannah and her sisters they had to find somewhere else to go. You can imagine how unwanted and unloved Hannah felt.
When her mother left, she had no choice but to move back in with her sisters and father. She had to return to the abuse just to have a place to stay.
Although her mother returned and Hannah left her father’s house, their new living situation didn’t work out. At 16 years old, Hannah was left homeless—for a second time.
School became a source of safety and community for Hannah when she needed it the most. “School was my place to let go of all the memories that replayed repeatedly, and that is why I love to learn so much,” Hannah said. “The teachers that surrounded me showed me love and kindness every day, and that is something I rarely experienced at home . . . When my mother left, many of my teachers and coaches made sure I was safe and cared for until I moved in [with the Holleys].”
Cathy Holley, a teacher at her school, and her husband, Ronald, took Hannah under their wing. The Holleys wanted to provide the best care possible for Hannah and officially be able to care for her in their home as foster parents. They went through foster parent training and were licensed through ABCH. God used the support of churches and donors across Alabama to equip the Holleys to provide Hannah with a safe, stable home during her time of need.
For the first time since she could remember, Hannah truly had a place to call home.
““Had not Cathy and Ronald Holley or ABCH opened a new path for my life then, I would not be sure what I would have become of myself or how I would have lived and survived from day to day.””
Hannah saw the Lord working and intervening in her life in those darkest days. “I have learned to not only be strong and thankful but to depend on God to lead the direction of my life,” said Hannah. “Even when rough times arise, I make sure I honor Him, and I honor those who have helped me, for, without them, my life would surely be different.”
Hannah achieved her dream of attending college. She received multiple scholarships, and the support from donors and churches provided her university costs, including housing, books, meals, and more. This allowed her to focus on school and dive into learning.
She realized she was passionate about technology and enrolled in the Management Information Systems (MIS) program at The University of Alabama. She was also accepted into the Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) at the Manderson Graduate School of Business. At the end of this year, she will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems.
Hannah sees the hope and healing God has provided in her life. One day, she hopes to help others experience the same healing she has. “Eventually, I want to have the means to help others who are facing familial adversity or seeking financial help to achieve their goals, too,” Hannah said. “The system has shown me how not to follow in the footsteps of my biological parents but to set goals for myself and to be dependent upon myself, not alcohol or random men.”
Hannah knows how God has transformed her, and she gives all glory to Him for how He has worked in her life. “I know God will always be a part of my life, and he will lift me up from the greatest tribulations I will deal with. My salvation is the best thing that could happen in my life and anyone’s life!”
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