Courage is defined as a quality of spirit that enables you to face the danger of pain without showing fear. Courage defines Angalena Rose. At age 20, she has overcome more obstacles and pain than many people ever see.
The day after her 15th birthday, Angalena Rose ran away from home, but she had admirable and courageous motives--getting help for herself and her siblings. Angalena Rose was the oldest of her siblings; two sisters and one brother. She was the protector and sometimes the provider to her family.
The day she ran away, she was determined to get her brother and sisters out of their home situation. She turned herself in to the Department of Social Services to get help. She was assigned a social worker, but had to prove herself. "I had a social worker who didn't really listen to me--I was made out to be a liar or a troublemaker," said Angalena.
Her social worker brought her to the Methodist Children Home's Owensboro Campus. "I was scared and tried to put on a tough front. So I caused a lot of problems," she said. Angalena was also full of anger when she first stepped foot on the Mary Kendall Campus. "I didn't realize how much it [the Methodist Home] helped me until after I left Mary Kendall. I love it now."
"I had to make a lot of noise, or whatever, to get them [social services] to see that it was a bad situation and to remove my brother and sisters," said Angalena, who succeeded in her quest to remove her siblings from their bad home life into foster care about one month later.
Angalena explained that one of the reasons she had not run away earlier was because her biological mother and step-father intimidated her with terrible stories about foster-care in which foster kids were locked in a closet or raped or beaten badly. "And that was far worse than I had it, so I was scared to speak up," she said. "I think a lot of kids from abused homes are intimidated [about foster care]. I think they [abusers] like to intimidate so you won't run or say anything..."
Angalena met her biological father only one time. Her biological mother was an alcoholic and addicted to drugs. Her mom's choice of men led to five failed marriages. "The drugs were all over the house and watching them shoot up--this wasn't good... [Pause]-- and getting the brunt of the temper."
When Angalena decided to run away, her mother had actually left everyone with husband number four. "It wasn't really her [mom] that I had the problem with--it was the boyfriends," said Angalena, "I don't really think it was courage. It was just being scared of what would happen next. I thought a typical family was being slapped or punched or whatever--and that's not it at all."
Angalena was placed in foster care after receiving help and therapy at the Mary Kendall Home. Her second foster care placement was successful. "I love my foster family. The only love I've ever seen or felt has come from my foster parents," she said. "I call them Mom and Dad. I legally changed my last name to theirs." Angalena goes with them on vacation and enjoys spending time with her foster family. In addition, Angalena's foster family adopted her little sister.
After turning 18, she signed up for the Independent Living program-- which is available through the Methodist Children's Home. The program provides financial assistance and teaches life skills to young adults in transition from the Home.
Currently, Angalena is full of smiles and has more self-confidence. She lives by herself in an apartment and works full-time at Tumbleweed restaurant. Full-time employment or a combination of work and school is a program requirement.
Angalena learns skills in the program including, budgeting, checkbook balancing, coupon shopping, laundry, cooking, etc..."I love it [Independent Living Program] because I'm shy. I don't like change a lot, because I had so much of it when I was growing up. I like having a safety net when I try something new."
Angalena wanted to give advice to some of the kids currently at the Methodist Home. "It gets better no matter what. You can help somebody else someday. You have a future, even if you don't see it [now]."
We are so proud of Angalena and the courage that she has shown. We are also proud of our "family of supporters" who help our young people, like Angalena, through their prayers and financial donations.