Meet Michelle: A Real-Life Story of a Project Avary Youth

My dad and I were very close, we did everything together. He was my hero and I was his little girl. But at age 5 my life and my childhood were suddenly turned upside down when dad was arrested and then sent to prison across the country. Since that time, things have been really hard for me and my brother and sister. When dad left there were many tears, I felt so alone and like no one cared about me. Part of me blamed myself for what happened, like if I had done better, been a better daughter, then dad would have remained here with us.

I once was shy and embarrassed to talk about my family’s history and my father’s incarceration. My family didn’t talk about it, and no one else really knew about it. So I kept my experience and my feelings to myself. The adults around me didn’t understand how fragile I was because of my father’s incarceration. Being bullied by others only added to the sense of sadness and loneliness. I carried all that sadness and grief inside me, on my own, and this made me feel even more isolated and alone in the world.

But then I discovered an amazing place called Project Avary, and I met other children and adult mentors who could understand what I had been through, and who gave me a safe space where I could speak openly about my experiences. With Avary I never feel alone. Children of incarcerated parents need a place like Project Avary to work through the feelings of loss, sadness, and anger, as well as a place to just be a kid and enjoy camp and all the other amazing outdoor adventures that we get to do.

Now at age 16 I’m an Avary Teen Leader and a Junior Counselor, and I can help other kids who are experiencing the same isolation that I felt. Project Avary provides kids with an environment where it’s safe to share your truth, and in that sharing the barriers come down, we’re slowly healed, and we can truly shine as the brilliant human beings that we really are. When we feel healed, and whole, we are empowered and we have so much to offer to the world!

Project Avary has made a huge impact on every aspect of my life. I am extremely grateful that my brother and sister are now benefiting from Avary as well. Our family is getting the opportunity to heal our past so that we can have a future that is filled with hope and joy.