Lisa and her three siblings grew up in a low-income area of Victoria with a single mother on welfare. Lisa says of her childhood: “My Mom was a ‘free spirit’; we lived a Bohemian lifestyle that did not value such conventionalities as bedtimes, regular meals, clean clothes and paying bills before utilities were cut off.” She regularly missed school. When she did go, she was scolded for her absence, being late and missing permission slips, school supplies or homework. Lisa now recognizes that she was so behind because she had missed so much school, but at the time, she truly believed she was stupid.
When she did go to school, Lisa did not fit in at all. In her own words, “I was a fat, quiet girl in awful clothes.” She was teased and ignored. It was a lot easier and more comfortable to just not go to school. After fading out in grade eight, she tried again the next year. She discovered the comfort and belonging of drugs, and quit school again.
Lisa began at Artemis Place when she was fifteen. The program helped Lisa set goals for herself for the first time. The program also helped Lisa learn that she had choices in life: “We were given a say in what we were going to learn. We all asked and talked and pondered. We learned to learn, not to hide the fact that we didn’t know.” For the first time in her life, she had adult models showing her what care and respect looked like: “I learned so much from them. The teachers and counselors taught me that adults could be caring without trying to take advantage of you.
They taught me how to communicate. They actually made me believe I was a person of worth. If, indeed, there were ever adults who had tried to get that message across before then, I was not able to hear them. I needed the whole package. I needed the respectful, caring, belonging immersion program.”
Artemis brought Lisa together with other girls who understood the life she had experienced. These girls were struggling, angry, hurt, and damaged, but they wanted to be there. They liked each other, and they welcomed her into their small, close group. Lisa had never experienced acceptance or a sense of belonging in a group before: “Belonging in a group is one of the biggest things for humans, especially teens. First that sense of belonging to something made me stronger. When I felt I belonged then I started to grow. If others could feel that way about me, perhaps I was worthy, after all.”
After two years, Lisa returned to the regular school system and graduated on the Honour Roll. Lisa credits the Artemis Program with turning her life around: “I truly believe that I was heading for the life of a drop out on welfare, and that I was saved from this life by the Artemis Place community. It doesn’t take much to change lives - some respect, belief, approval… Helping them thrive takes so little.”
Lisa had her first baby at twenty, and still managed to receive her Bachelor of Education degree. “I became the very best mother I could, and the very best teacher”, she says. Lisa was (and continues to be) drawn to at-risk students. She now works provincially assisting First Nations schools to work with their students with special needs, and recently completed her Masters in Education. In her third year of university she joined the Artemis Place Board of Directors.
Lisa is determined to see the success of Artemis continue: “The program was there when I needed it as a vulnerable girl. I am committed to ensuring this wonderful program is there for other girls and their families. I know the program works. And I know that the girls are worth it.”
Artemis Place is a committed community partner that works with sponsors, donors, and the media to bring attention and awareness to the challenges facing the most vulnerable young women in our community. Artemis has survived and successfully adapted to changes in funding, but current funding levels do not allow them to respond to the need in the community. Artemis is in its time of greatest need and without funding the program will not be able to continue. With support, Artemis can step in and help the highest risk girls, at the time when they need it most.
Lisa’s Story