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The following is a speech given at Haven’s 2011 benefit by Mary Beth Pierce —a mother who used Haven’s services
Good evening, my name is Marybeth Pierce and I am speaking on behalf of my daughter Ellen Pierce who was unable to make it tonight, as she is in the home stretch of her Senior year the the University of Illinois. Ellen would like to share with you all how she has continued to benefit from her experiences with Haven throughout young adulthood.
I would first like to thank everyone at Haven for inviting me to share my story at such a fabulous event! I would also like to thank my parents for helping me give back to an organization from which I have benefited so greatly. I began utilizing Haven’s free counseling services my Junior year of high school and joined the Haven Youth Board soon thereafter. Haven became my second home, a place where I felt comfortable and knew the door was always open. Growing up the youngest of six children, I was exposed to situations far beyond my years. High school proved to be a trying time in my life and I often felt overwhelmed by the obstacles thrown my way.
The counseling sessions provided me with the tools I needed to make it through the tough times. I learned how to take on life’s hurdles but most importantly how to believe in myself. Being a member of the Youth Board was a way for me to give back to Haven. Although some meetings were more productive than others, youth board gave a diverse group of teens a unique opportunity to come together for a common purpose. Our meetings were always entertaining and we left with a sense of accomplishment.
Haven has motivated me to pursue a career in Social Service and in just a few short weeks I will be graduating with a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies. I am fortunate to have had a resource like Haven that supported me and helped me overcome great adversity. I would love to one day be that resource for families in need. It is impossible to say where I will be in 20 years but I am confident that my passion for others and strong heart will open doors to opportunity in my future. I am eternally grateful to the wonderful people at Haven for inspiring me to follow my heart. Enjoy your evening and thank you for supporting such an phenomenal organization. And don’t forget to bid on the Vienna Beef hot dog party! :)
The following is a speech given at the 2010 benefit by Alex —
Haven’s 2010 Outstanding Youth Award recipient
My name is Alex. I am a senior at New Trier and a member of the Haven Youth Board.
I want to begin by thanking you for inviting me to speak with you about Haven Youth and Family Services.
Haven is a very special place. It’s a drop in center where teens can stop by without an appointment to hang out, do their homework, or talk to an outreach worker about worries or problems. It’s a free family counseling center where folks from the community can come to get advice on family problems or help with temporary or emergency housing. And it’s a 24 hour a day emergency hotline and a outreach center for New Trier and Washburne Middle School students.
Haven is not an ordinary windowless, damp and dark outreach center. Its a bright, warm, and welcoming place located in Wilmette. It fills an important niche for students and their families who may be uncomfortable talking with teachers, police, or school administrators about their personal and family problems.
The Haven counselors are young approachable people who students feel comfortable confiding in. They are empathetic and they know how to guide students and their families to the appropriate community resources for counseling, housing, and crisis intervention.
But one Haven story is worth a thousand of my words. Let me tell you the story in her own words, of a 15 year old New Trier freshman who found refuge at Haven.
My story begins at the start of my freshman year. It was a new school with new people and I was pretty excited. I had close friends, a great family, and a positive outlook. Downright awesome, really.
Suddenly the ground dropped from beneath my feet, and I felt I was falling. Falling faster and deeper than I had ever fallen before. I was losing control. My grandparents’ home was destroyed in Katrina, which stressed out my mom and left her focusing on dealing with her parents. My best friend was emotionally and verbally abusive towards me, and, perhaps worst of all, I felt I had to deal with it alone.
At first, I cut myself. The release I got from that was enough to keep me relatively sane. My cousin, living with us at the time, discovered what I had known all along to be a bad habit, and told my mom about my cutting.
The next day I was at Haven. The minute the door closed behind me, I felt this immense sense of relief. It was like I had spent the last two months playing tag, and I had finally found the safe zone. I started going to therapy there, and through that I’ve come to realize so many things about myself. I am strong. I can bounce back. And most importantly, I’ve learned that I’m human. I might screw up, but I still deserve all the things that humans need to be happy.
Yet, Haven has given me so much more. I’m part of a youth board, and I’ve spent a fair amount of my spare time there just hanging out. The amazing staff there has shown me what compassion, fun, and positive change are all about. They are my role models, showing me joy and guiding me through all the trials and tribulations of adolescence. They are the adults I hope to be one day, leading young people like me to find the good in themselves and giving them opportunities to shine.
Haven is my home, my happy place. Haven is where I belong. It&aspos;s where I am a true individual. Haven is where I learn what it means to live.
What a powerful story. Over the years Haven has been a transformative place for this young student and many others like her. My own experiences as a Youth Board member during the last two years have taught me that a small group of dedicated people can make a difference. Whether its collecting hundreds of bags for homeless veterans, to tackling the huge piles of letters for the benefits, to collecting cans for the food pantry.
But we can’t do all of this without your continued support. Like many community service organizations, Haven relies on the support of all of you to continue our important role in the community.
You can tell that I’m passionate about Haven and its mission and I hope you are as well. Thank you again for your kind invitation and your support of our organization.
The following is a speech given at the 2009 Haven benefit by John —
Haven’s 2009 Outstanding Youth Award recipient
Hello, I am John and I would like to start by saying thank you all for coming to the Spring Benefit. I’m going to assume you are all great people, because you came to support a great cause. I know from first hand experience that Haven changes people, because it has changed me. About a year ago I got into some trouble with the police. It was the day of my finals and my friends and I were celebrating the end of the year. After I stumbled around Kenilworth highly intoxicated for about an hour, I was pulled into the police station. I was assigned community service, and recommended to Haven Youth and Family Services. My parents have raised me with great morals, but there is only so much parents can do to control a teenager. Before I went to Haven, I was shy, reserved in big groups of people, and never expressed myself. I had trouble making positive relationships with adults (besides my parents), and found myself avoiding public speaking. Now I express myself, I have met new people, gained confidence, but most importantly learned to open up to people. I remember the first time I called Haven to set up a time to come in for community service. I was one awkward phone call away from making a step towards the right direction. Thinking that Haven was going to be some fling to get my hours of community service done and then leave, I found myself mistaken. Haven means so much to me now. I met the friendliest people, who always listen to me when I need to talk. They give great advice, and have kept what I say confidential. Lauren, Heather, Bonnie, Dee-Dee, Amy, and Andy. It may seem like I am name dropping right now, but if you all took fifteen minutes with any of them, you would agree that they are some of the most wonderful people you have ever met. I like to think that our personalities are shaped by the people we grow up with, the people we play with, and the people we love. I am glad to say that Haven has become a part of my personality. I no longer drink or smoke, and although I still have signs of stage fright (obviously), I am confident, and can come up in front of however many people, and share with you. My story with Haven is unique, just like any other teen that goes to Haven for support. Haven gives kids a place to go if their friends are drinking or smoking, it gave me a place to go when my friends were drinking and smoking. It provides support for teens in trouble and is a place to meet new people. Haven has done this and more, but it’s only as strong as the people who support it. Thank you.
Lizzy Appleby is a Haven client and member of the Haven Youth Board.
She is a junior at New Trier High School.
My story begins at the start of my freshman year. It was a new school with new people and I was pretty excited. I had close friends, a great family, and a positive outlook. Downright awesome, really. Suddenly the ground dropped from beneath my feet, and I felt I was falling. Falling faster and deeper than I had ever fallen before. I was losing control. My grandparents’ home was destroyed in Katrina, which stressed out my mom and left her focusing on dealing with her parents. My best friend was emotionally and verbally abusive towards me, and, perhaps worst of all, I felt I had to deal with it alone.
At first, I cut. The release I got from that was enough to keep me relatively sane. But eventually, as it does with most, the secret pain, fear, and constant stress I was holding in started to ooze out through the cracks. My cousin, living with us at the time, discovered what I had known all along to be a bad habit, and told my mom about my cutting.
The next day I was at Haven. The minute the door closed behind me, I felt this immense sense of relief. It was like I had spent the last two months playing tag, and I had finally found the safe zone. I started going to therapy there, and through that I’ve come to realize so many things about myself. I am strong. I can bounce back. And most importantly, I’ve learned that I’m human. I might screw up, but I still deserve all the things that humans need to be happy. Yet, Haven has given me so much more. I’m part of a youth board, and I’ve spent a fair amount of my spare time there just hanging out. The amazing staff there has shown me what compassion, fun, and positive change are all about. They are my role models, showing me joy and guiding me through all the trials and tribulations of adolescence. They are the adults I hope to be one day, leading young people like me to find the good in themselves and giving them opportunities to shine. They don’t allow me to be myself; they encourage me to show the world my crazy sense of humor and loud personality.
Haven is my home, my happy place. Haven is where I belong. It’s where I am a true individual. Haven is where I learn what it means to live. It’s where I learn to ask for help, and where I learn that I am good enough to help others. I am suported, encouraged, appreciated. I am loved. This place, this building, these incredible people; that is what makes Haven what it truly is: a place of sanctuary and safety, refuge and rest. A home for young people that changes lives. That is Haven.