When I was 18 I was in my final year of high school, looking forward to university. I had done well enough in school that I had actually received a small partial scholarship. I was suddenly hit in the face in the spring, right at easter. My mother filed for separation and said that she wanted to have full custody of my siblings and not me. So at 18, I was suddenly homeless. My mother wanted nothing to do with me and I was shocked, hurt and alone.

I was already buying all my own clothes and school supplies as well as many things for my siblings, but suddenly I had no place to live. My grandparents would have taken me but they had my mother part-time, my dad would have taken me but he was living with a friend as it was. I had to find money for all my senior year things I was supposed to participate in. I  chose to not buy a grad ring, I needed to buy food instead for my family. I was also buying my medications because I had several medical conditions. 

This situation forced me to learn financial literacy at a young age. I had to prioritize expenses, distinguish between wants and needs, and stretch every dollar to survive.

I was taking naps in school during lunch hours because I had no place safe to sleep, I was so alone and so scared. I was also unsure how I would be able to even continue with high school because I had no place to study or to even get regular meals.

I was so lucky, that my boyfriend, who while I had been friends with for a while, I had only been dating for a few weeks, told his grandmother that I was going to be living on the streets unless I figured something out fast. She was not going to let that happen and that is how at 18 I was living on my boyfriend’s grandmother’s couch. 

For the first time in years, I had an adult who cared for me in a way I hadn’t experienced in a long time. She made lunches for me to take to school, complete with sweet, encouraging notes.

This simple act of kindness gave me emotional and mental stability, which allowed me to focus on my education—a crucial part of long-term financial planning. I finally had a safe place to sleep and could focus on finishing projects and essays, which helped me finish the year strong. Although I was working, this kind of woman refused to accept money from me. She told me to save it for what I needed instead.

She let me stay through the summer until I moved away for university. If it hadn’t been for my boyfriend’s (now husband) grandmother, I would have ended up living on the streets or in a completely unsafe environment.

This experience taught me resilience. It showed me how a support system, no matter how unexpected, can make a difference in the face of adversity. By managing my limited resources wisely and accepting help when needed, I was able to build a foundation for a better future.

While I’d like to say this is a story about how I overcame adversity, it’s really about how a grandmother’s kindness and generosity saved me from homelessness. Her support gave me a second chance to thrive and achieve my goals.