Community. That’s what I have found in LiveGirl.
Everyone typically uses this word to describe their experience with organizations but it’s different to actually live in it.
In May of 2020, I lost my father to Covid which was ultimately the most devastating thing that I could’ve ever experienced. A couple months later, I joined LiveGirl League with absolute no idea what I wanted to do to help my community or how I even would. I had no inkling of self love, no true understanding of myself, and no real personal goals. But by the end of every meeting, I discovered different parts of myself that I didn’t even know existed.
Fast forward to the second to last week of our meetings, I was now someone who learned how to speak life into themselves and found that their passion was helping others around them. Particularly youth who are grieving which is how The Grief Relief Group came to life. I started this group then began to co-lead it with my best friend. We held meetings every Saturday afternoon where we created a space for young teens to confront their feelings in a healthy way.
Through this group I have learned that there is healing in both giving and receiving. Without the tremendous amount of support and guidance from LiveGirl, I would have never learned that loss doesn’t just have to be loss, but that what I’ve learned from this loss can be made into positive action.
With all this being said, I want to give a great thank you to LiveGirl. One of the greatest things you’ve given me and I’m sure many other girls, is the freedom to be my most unapologetic authentic self without judgment. Thank you for all that you’ve done to help young women like myself flourish into people we used to dream to be.
By Breana Chery, LiveGirl HS Fellow
