Taquisha’s Story

I grew up in an abusive family with a complicated history; childhood friends that I didn’t know were cousins, aunts, and uncles. I mostly grew up around the men in my family. My siblings and I were bounced around all over the place, were exposed to whatever drugs were around, and I developed some control issues. I came to a place of just being lost; I was straddling a fence. I would go to church drunk or high and I just got tired.

I came to Visalia and lived with my aunt and uncle, who had some control issues. They also had a military background, so life was very rigid and regimented. Life with my uncle was very much his way or no way. You could do no right and even when you did, there was no acknowledgement. I felt so torn and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was tired of the addiction, it was just draining me. One day I went and stood by the train tracks and as the train was getting closer and closer I couldn’t go through with it. I took my phone, called my uncle and told him to come get me. I had to do something.

I called my pastor at the time, who had offered to help me, and ended up connecting with a woman who does chapel at the women’s shelter here. She told me about the Life Change Academy program and being that it was Christian-based, she knew it was for me, that I would take it and run with it, and here I am.

I came in the middle of August of 2019 and will graduate this October. In my time here I’ve learned that without God I can’t do anything. He is first and foremost in my life. I’ve learned how to apply the Bible to my life. I love all of the staff here and love hearing a bit of their backgrounds and the way God changed their lives, it’s just beautiful. Everyone here is so family-oriented, it’s just so special; I’m happy I came here.

I’ve been through the drugs, the drinking, the abuse, being molested, being raped, death of a parent, death of a partner, a failed marriage. I’ve been through all of these aspects of life and I’m here. God had a great plan for me and this program is teaching me a whole lot. I’m learning something new everyday and I love it.

Self-care is a mental thing, It’s not just putting on makeup. The Life Change Academy program wants you healthy; physically, mentally, and spiritually, and they’ll teach you the tools to maintain that.

To wake up in the morning and 1) know you’re safe and 2) to know you’re loved, those are the best things. A lot of people think if they don’t love themselves, then God won’t love them. That’s not true, God is always going to love you and you get to love yourself.

I’m thankful for this program because it taught me how to love myself in a way that I never thought I was capable of loving myself and that’s the most important thing to me. I know God loves me unconditionally, I know the staff loves me, but without me loving myself, who am I fooling? I’m fooling nobody.