Youth Chronicles: Luke's story

Hey there, fellow Strugglers!
I’m Luke and I just wanted to share a bit of my journey here while sporting my favorite Strugglers tee.

Life, for anyone, can be random and chaotic, like a roller coaster throwing unexpected twists our way. We can't always choose what life throws at us but we can decide how we face it and look for the positive things.  

 As the eldest brother of 6 I had to grow up fast  to ensure that our younger siblings were safe and fed as unfortunately the adults were not always up to the task. I’ve had to act like an adult and be responsible for both myself and those around me for as long as I can remember.

Eventually I grew up in foster care and often faced challenges finding friends and connecting with parental figures after the chaos and disarray of my early childhood. It can be difficult to  connect when moving every few years to a different school and home.

Navigating life without parental guidance can be tough, and I can honestly say that without the help of some amazing people I wouldn't be where I am in life or who I am. A person I quite like most of the time lol!.

During a period where I was struggling greatly I asked a couple I had stayed with on foster leave to let me stay with them as their fostered child as the current home and dynamic was not working out.

 It was perhaps the first and most formative time where I took initiative in directing my life and deciding who I wanted to be a part of, that one choice led to many if not most of the positive things that have occurred since. Friends, relationships, university, travel: things that I got to enjoy by making a choice about what I wanted at the time and making it happen.

Ultimately the best thing I could do for myself was allow myself to be genuine to who I am, this in turn allowed me to make connections and friendships with some incredible people that hold strong to today.

These relationships have helped me not only preserve my mental health but also create a more resilient positive mindset in life and motivated me to try and be my best self every day. Some days are better than others, and sometimes I don’t always succeed in what I set out to do. But in trying you always find the good things and good people that make life worthwhile.

Moreover, life is unpredictable, and having a support system provides a safety net during tough times, Right?
 
These people are truly the unsung heroes of my life's adventure.

"So if you too are on the path of finding your people, your tribe, embrace the chaos and enjoy this wild ride!"

Luke.