Meet Jessie!
Jessie is a 4th year student studying Political Science and Sexual Diversity Studies. Jessie tries her best to be a person that is hardworking and conscious about how her actions affect others. She enjoys playing video games, being outdoors (she loves camping) and hanging out with her friends.
Moving on From…
Jessie has complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of various childhood traumas. She was sexually abused from the ages of 3 to 10, thought the brunt stopped at 8, with her mother being complacent in Jessie’s abuse as it provided her with financial gain. Her father was a pimp that was incarcerated when Jessie was 2 years old and upon his release, he decided to involve Jessie in his criminal lifestyle and used her for drug drop-offs from the age of 4 to 8. Growing up, Jessie frequently dealt with homelessness, with the first time she was kicked out of her house being when she was 6. While she was lucky enough to have friends to stay with many times, there were also times she has slept in dog houses or outside, and as she got older, she would go to warehouse parties since that meant she would have a place to sleep afterwards. Jessie would sometimes not get food and not be allowed to brush her teeth. She would get locked in basements and bathrooms, which resulted in her sleeping with a night light until she was in her late teens.
This resulted in her having very bad self-esteem, and in turn, it’s hard for Jessie to say positive things about herself or to accept gifts. Jessie compares herself to others, specifically people who come from more stable family backgrounds than she does. She also likes getting critiques from others as she uses this feedback in order to work on herself.
It took Jessie 2 years to come to university because she had to get her finances in order. It was hard for her to navigate OSAP as she didn’t have people to show her how to and had to submit multiple additional forms to explain her living situation, which prolonged the process for her. She worked full-time for a year as she wanted to have enough money saved up, so she wouldn’t have to rely on anyone for help. Because of all the money that Jessie has saved up, when she applies for financial aid, she is rejected because she’s told she has too much money which is extremely disheartening for her.
Jessie’s mental health has gotten better ever since she came to university, as the available mental health services really helped her. Jessie saved up money to live on residence during her first year, and it was here that she met the people that who have become her family. Her friend group is such a great support network for her, and they always try to ensure that Jessie feels safe. University gave her the opportunity to meet amazing people that she otherwise never would have met. However, during her second year she ended up taking a gap year because her chosen father, who is her sister’s father, fell into a coma. This led to Jessie working 2 full-time jobs and working 90 or more hours a week so she could pay his rent and her rent. Thankfully he got better, and Jessie was able to return to University of Toronto.
However, coming back to school was hard for Jessie and her grades dropped as she was dealing with multiple mental health issues. She didn’t really talk to her friends that year as she existed to work. She lost 30 pounds and because she wasn’t coping well, she went to Health and Wellness and through them she was able to do an intensive therapy course for people who have complex PTSD. With all these continued supports she is a happy person who loves being involved in the community which gave her so much.
Take Home Message
“Ask for help about everything if you don’t know what to do, where to go, having financial aid issues). Because the world is full of good people who want you to succeed”- to her past self
“Recognize that the person you are and the place you are in is based off your experiences in life, both good and bad. The person you’ll become is based off what you’re doing right now. If you try hard enough, you’ll get there, even if you fail a few times. Just try”- to the person reading this