Most people have heard the phrase, “never judge a book by its cover.” That sentiment rings especially true for the young people served by Youth Villages. Take Mia, for example, a spunky, determined young woman with a dream of becoming a mechanic. Her passion was sparked by the “Fast & Furious” movie franchise, but beneath her love of high-speed action lies a deeper story. One of survival, resilience and self-discovery.

Mia is a participant in the Youth Villages LifeSet program, which helps young adults transition into adulthood by providing individualized support in areas like housing, education, employment and mental health.

Growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, Mia faced a hostile home environment. She was exposed to drugs, verbal and physical abuse, and bullying from an early age. Her family lived with her maternal grandmother because her mother couldn’t afford housing due to a low credit score.

Survival became the name of the game for Mia. The house was often filled with individuals struggling with substance abuse, and Mia found herself isolated in her room to avoid the chaos. She wasn’t even allowed to share meals with her family.

Television and movies became her escape.

“I would be depressed, yes, but it was also an opportunity for me to find a new outlet,” Mia said.

And that is how Mia found the world of anime. It gave her hope. She found comfort in the stories of characters who, despite their battles, always found their way back to each other.

“After their missions, they would always find their way back to each other and celebrate like a family,” Mia said. “It gave me a sense of hope that the hardships will one day end for me.”

Although she found solace in fictional worlds, it didn’t stop Mia from dealing with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation from a young age. She made multiple attempts to take her life. She sought mental health services many times, entered therapy and tried medication management until her insurance lapsed. The Department of Social Services (DSS) got involved, but each time, her family would temporarily clear the house to make things appear normal.

“I would try and tell people what was happening to me, and they wouldn’t believe me,” Mia said. “It made me feel like my entire life was a lie even though I was living through it.”

At 17, Mia was kicked out of her grandmother’s home and left to fend for herself. She found work at a local barbecue restaurant, where she met Marianna, an education vocational specialist with Youth Villages. Marianna listened to Mia’s story and introduced her to LifeSet. Mia knew she needed help and didn’t hesitate to join. Not only was this an opportunity for her to learn how to be successfully independent, but this meant she finally had people (specialists) to listen to her and support her.

One of Mia’s biggest challenges was financial literacy. She watched her mother struggle with money and lacked the tools to manage her own finances after being kicked out. That’s where a financial literacy peer-to-peer program hosted by Youth Villages and local financial partners made a life-changing impact.

The program offered hands-on sessions where young adults learned essential skills like budgeting, saving and managing expenses. These gatherings also foster a community where participants connect with peers who share similar experiences, helping build a support network. For Mia, it wasn’t just about learning how to manage money; it was about gaining control over her future.

Thanks to the influence of Fast & Furious, today Mia is working toward her dream of becoming a mechanic. She’s building a life of independence, strength and purpose one step at a time.

Her story is a testament to what happens when young people are given the support they need to thrive. Thanks to LifeSet, Mia is no longer just surviving; she’s driving toward a future she can be proud of.

About Youth Villages – North Carolina

In collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, our North Carolina services focus on strengthening families to prevent or reduce the need for out-of-home placements (Intercept, MST and High Fidelity Wraparound) and supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they transition to adulthood (LifeSet).

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