When Mary laces up her skates and steps onto the ice, the world gets quiet. It’s one of the coping skills she’s discovered on her journey with the help of LifeSet. A journey that has taken her from years of instability to a place of strength, purpose and hope.

When Mary was 6, her mother remarried, and the changes at home led to physical and sexual abuse.

“We’ve dealt with child welfare for most of my life,” Mary said. “It took them a while to figure out what was going on, and that’s when I ended up in foster care.”

The emotional toll of those early years weighed heavily.

“Sometimes, I would wake up and be like, I don’t want to be here anymore,” she said.

Struggling with suicidal thoughts and hallucinations, Mary found herself fighting just to make it through the day.

That’s when she was referred to LifeSet and matched with her specialist, Nycole. It turned out to be more than a program, it became her path forward.

“I love meeting with my LifeSet specialist,” Mary said. “She is my bestie.”

Nycole has been by her side as she’s worked to build coping strategies, explore job opportunities and secure housing for the fall semester since her school typically only houses freshmen.

“Mary is a joy to work with, and I look forward to our sessions every week,” Nycole said. “She has come so far.”

One of the most meaningful parts of Mary’s journey has been finding a therapist she connects with and having consistent support has made a big difference.

Through LifeSet, she also discovered the calming power of ice skating. One of the first things she and Nycole focused on was building coping skills to manage her anxiety. When Mary discovered the skating rink on campus at UMass Boston, it quickly became her sanctuary – a place where she could quiet her mind and feel at peace.

“It really helps me slow down,” she said. “It’s something that calms me when my thoughts get overwhelming.”

Now 19, Mary is a criminology major with a dream of becoming a defense attorney and fighting for justice for others. Her goal is deeply rooted in her lived experiences.

“It’s my way of giving back,” she said.

As she reflects on where she’s been and where she’s going, Mary knows the value of having people in her corner.

“I feel like it’s important to have a village around you,” she said. “Because it takes a village to raise someone. LifeSet has been that village for me.”

Thanks to LifeSet, Mary is not only surviving but also thriving. And her village is cheering her on every step of the way.

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