“I’ll Survive”
Alisha Adkins is a former foster youth survivor. She wrote the poem below while she was in 10th grade struggling to overcome what she described as a “horrible home life”. At the time, the only adult who listened to her and mentored her was her English teacher, who encouraged her to write her feelings down and to keep moving forward. Today, she’s happily attending school in Ohio, earning degrees in criminal justice and social work with the help of FC2S’ ETV and scholarship programs. She’s even in the process of publishing her first book of poetry! Check out Alisha’s poem, “I’ll Survive”:
It is hard every day to survive,
But I do.
I don’t know how long it takes to get by,
But I’ll Survive.
The pain and the tears come from everywhere,
But I’ll Survive.
Every “game” is confusing.
It makes my stomach ache,
But I’ll Survive.
I get tired of trying to just get by.
It is hard to survive,
But I do.
I get tired of surviving.
What else can I do?
I don’t know,
But I’ll Survive.
When I ask you,
You say there is nothing else to do,
But Survive.
It takes too long to get past just surviving.
The days are long and seem like forever,
But I’ll Survive.
Life is hard.
It is difficult to survive,
But I have a heart of a fighter.
I am a survivor,
And I will Survive!
Dear Poetess — thank you so much for sharing your poem. I am printing it out to share with girls at a state facility for juveniles. There are some girls there who have amazing capacity to write poems — and poetry is a bridge to the heart.
Your poem will be, I think, a bridge, a beautiful bridge for someone else. Perhaps a Golden Gate?
Thank you so much. I am sure you have a powerful life ahead.
M Crandall
Thank you Reverend. I am happy that God has given me the opportunities he has. If it were not for him, I would not be where I am at today. I hope my story will encourage them to keep writing, and to love themselves. I hope it encourages them to believe that they too can turn the negatives of life into a positive out come. I am much obliged to you for sharing my story with others.
Thank you Lauren for writing this wonderful piece.
Also I want to thank Foster Care to Sucess, ETV, and Ms. Eiting for all of their love, care, and support. A few other people I want to thank are Laura Adkins, Tina Raheem, Mary Imler, and my English teacher Ms. P. To these wonderful ladies, I am forever grateful. They have helped change my life.
Alisha R. Adkins