Julie and her brother have been coming to 71Five Campus for over 2 years now. She’s always been quiet, very shy, and not always willing to engage. Sometimes I will see her sitting by herself out in the hall and ask her why she separated from the group. She always responds with a mumble, avoids eye contact, and eventually does re-engage when she’s ready. Over the past year, Julie has been coming out of her shell. She now interacts with others, has built relationships with her peers, speaks up at times, and plays our games with enjoyment! Recently we went on a snow trip. When I jumped in the van to drive home, she was sitting in the front seat. She began talking to me immediately and kept saying “I never talk this much.” After a while, she shared with me that she has a disability that causes her to have social anxiety. She hated school because of it and would always find a corner in the classroom to hide in. With her sharing her story, I began filling in the missing puzzle pieces.

 

Julie and I talked the entire ride home. We talked about matters that were deep and only shared in a safe environment. In the past 2 years, we’ve made many memories, but this journey home was by far my favorite. It took 2 years for Julie to feel safe enough to trust me with a fragment of who she is. This trust brings hope for the both of us! Thank you for your part in Julie’s journey at 71Five.