A 2017 graduate of Villa of Hope School, Rachel has come a long, long way!

She originally shared her story in the Villa’s 75^th anniversary Annual Report, where she had recounted a battle with mental health during her early teen years that had had threatened success in every aspect of her life. Of that time period, she recalls, “It was such a bad time. Sunday nights and every morning waking up, the struggle would start, with my parents telling me I had to go to school; and me not going. They would eventually give up. My parents wanted me to succeed but just watched me go downhill. I was crying all the time, and genuinely terrified of having to be in school, where I felt trapped, like a caged animal.”

After many trials in other programs, including partial hospitalization, she landed at Villa of Hope School, where on her very first day, she made the first friend she had had in quite awhile. The staff support she received there propelled her on to straight “A”s and blossoming artistic talent. She worked as a Workforce Development intern in the Villa’s Marketing Department, graduated at the top of her class, and went on to college at SUNY Brockport.

Today she is happy and living her dream. Be sure to tune in to find out what that is . . . and to hear her story, in her own words, during our televised Gala on April 24, 7pm on WROC TV 8!