Carlos
Carlos has been a client at the Bernstein Independent Living Campus, also known as Pond Place, for a year.
On a scholarship application, Carlos shared his story…
I was adopted at the age of 4 by my maternal aunt and uncle. I lived with them for about 10 years before being Baker Acted due to violent behavior. After being Baker Acted numerous times, I was told that my adoption was no longer a good placement. It was determined that I would live with my maternal grandmother.
After being placed there, I was OK for about six months and then my anger issues started again. I was Baker Acted about seven more times and a meeting was held. Staff recommended that I be placed in a residential facility. I was there for 9 months and 3 days. While in this facility, which was basically a medical locked-down facility, I was in an environment where I was forced to try a new way of dealing with my anger.
When I left this facility, I was placed with HomeSafe in the therapeutic residential group home program in West Palm Beach. Part of this program included therapy which helped me tremendously in dealing with my issues. Additionally, the group home really felt like home, and I was able to focus on getting better.
When I was in foster care, I was told to do what I needed to do to get by. At HomeSafe, I had a strong support system and a group of mentors who pushed me to be my best. During the eight months at the HomeSafe residential group home, I found my passion for music. In 11th grade, I auditioned for chorus, was accepted, and music has been my life from that day forward! I even had a part in the school musical “Hair Spray.”
In 2020, I turned 18 and aged out of the foster care system before the end of my senior year of high school. I was able to move into Pond Place, HomeSafe’s Independent Living Program, so that I could graduate from Palm Beach Lakes High School. At Pond Place, I have a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment and I have been able to continue my studies, now finishing up my freshman year as a music major at Palm Beach State College. I’ve also received very exciting news – in February, the voice faculty at FAU accepted me as a voice principal in the Department of Music’s Bachelor of Music program.
Through all of my trials I have learned that you catch more bees with honey than you do with vinegar and that life is a funny thing. I realized that I was driving away the people that cared for me by not understanding how to express myself in a better way. As my behavior and attitude changed, thanks to the help I received, I noticed that more people were encouraging and supportive of my progress.
I attribute my success to being surrounded by positive people and having a good support system these past few years. That, and my passion for music, have changed my life!
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