Springboard provides a safe environment for girls under the age of 18. In order to protect their confidentiality, we do not post their photos. Each student bio listed below is a real story of a Springboard student. You will be receiving a Good News Letter each month from a current student, but names will be changed to protect their identities. Your sponsorship donation will go to support stories like these. Thank you for understanding and thank you for loving them back to life.
Carmen - Age 13
Before I came to Springboard I was dealing with trauma, addiction, and mental health. Since being here I’ve been learning about the Lord our Father and how to forgive others even when I feel like they are in the wrong. While I’m in the program I want God to plant a seed of kindness, holding my tongue, and self-control, in my heart. When it comes time to go home, I want things to be different. I want to be nice and not get in a fight with everyone.
Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”
Joy - Age 13
Before coming to Springboard I had a problem with controlling my anger and being able to express how I feel without raging. Also keeping my feelings to myself which led to severe suicidal thoughts, attempts, and self-harm. Since being here I’m learning that we all have emotions and that you shouldn’t be afraid to show them. That God made you perfectly and you shouldn’t try to be or act like someone you’re not. I want God to help me be able to spread His Word even if people judge me. And being able to know that there is always light in the darkness because I have God in my heart. After Springboard, I want to be better at expressing my emotions the right way and to be able to handle conflict.
Favorite Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” Because it tells us that we can lay all our worries and troubles at God’s feet because he loves and cares about us.
Kay - Age 14
Before Springboard, I struggled with some crazy addictions. I felt lost and I was self-harming and struggling to continue with life. Since being here I’m learning to love myself for who I am and learning about God while drawing closer to Him. While I’m here, I want God to give me patience and kindness to keep moving forward in this program. I want to have a closer and more understanding relationship with God. I want my future to be different when I go home. I want to be happy and full of life and to be off my meds. I also want to have the strength to not fall into the same temptation when I get home.
Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:13 says “For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Leigh-Anne - Age 14
For me, before I came to Springboard I struggled with many things. The main things that I struggled with would probably be anger and following the rules along with sexual behaviors and drugs. While being at Springboard I have learned a lot and I have changed a lot of my past behaviors. I am learning to build my relationship with God and to fix my relationship with my family and to realize that there will always be people that will try to bring me down but to push on and have faith. I would like for God to help guide me through life and continue to show me his ways. Also, for God to continue to protect my family and me. I would like my future to be different for me, my parents, and my siblings. I would like for us to all be at peace and to just have a normal teenage life. I also want to have a really good relationship with my mom, sister, and brother. I want to have a relationship like my mom and her mom and be the best big sister I can be. My favorite Bible verse right now is Romans 10:9-10.
Favorite Scripture: Romans 10:9-10 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Lynn - Age 16
The reason I came to Springboard is because I struggle with depression, self-harm, and suicide. I was very lonely for a couple of years and that only made it worse. I eventually got used to it and became numb while still participating in self-harm and suicide attempts. Self-harm then became an addiction and my mental and physical health only became worse. I am learning to love myself and to forgive myself as God has loved and forgave me. While I am here, I want God to just fill my heart with love and to mend what’s been broken and give me self-control and wisdom. In my future I see myself happy, full of life, and living for God while helping others to know God.
Favorite Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:11 “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Marie - Age 15
When I came here, I struggled with depression, self-harm, drinking, and smoking. This is because I felt worthless and like nothing mattered and I wanted to numb my pain. Since I have been here though I’m learning that God can forgive me for absolutely anything, all I have to do is ask. I’ve also learned a lot of stuff about my self-worth and how amazing waiting for marriage is! While I’m here I want God to just give me strength for when I go back home and show me how good my life can be if I really want it to be, and work hard to stay close to God. When I go home I want to have hope for the future instead of fear. I want to be as close to God as possible! I want to be able to know the difference if he is speaking to me or the devil, and make the right decision.
Favorite Scripture: Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
May - Age 13
Before coming to this program, I struggled with lying and stealing. I fought with my mom and my family constantly and struggled with my faith. While I’ve been here, I’ve learned that I am not alone in this journey because I have God with me. I am learning to forgive. I want God to transform my heart to Godly instead of sinful. I want to be wise instead of foolish. I want to have God in my future, I want him to help me get through rough days. I will be a new person through Jesus Christ my Lord and King of the universe!
Favorite Scripture: Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet, and a light for my path.”
Rennae - Age 17
Before coming to Springboard, I struggled with addiction, alcoholism, abuse, homelessness, aggression, and connection. Currently in the program, I am learning about my self-worth and the value of it. When I think of what I want God to do in my heart while I’m here, I want Him to heal what for years, I haven’t been able to heal on my own. I want to enjoy life and finally be happy again.
Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Therese - Age 16
Before coming to Springboard I had struggled with an eating disorder since I was six. I also struggled with having anger outbursts. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been learning to control myself in difficult situations where I can’t control anybody else or the situation, just myself. I want God to help me forgive others as He has forgiven me. And I want Him to give me unconditional love for people, especially the ones I struggle to like. When I go home I want to have healthier relationships, mainly with my parents. I also want to learn how to have healthy boundaries instead of being rebellious.
Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Truely - Age 13
Before coming here, I had problems with lying, stealing and cheating. Now that I’m here, I see that I can be saved by Jesus’s mercy! Right now I’m learning that I’m SAVED because of Jesus dying on the cross and that I’m not a hopeless mess. I want God to come into my heart and cleanse it with his spirit. I want him to change me so I can start again. When I go back home I don’t want to have problems with my parents or unhealthy fights. I want to be in harmony with them and be joyful! Philippians 4:13 is my favorite verse right now “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” It’s my favorite because now I know I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Savior!
Favorite Scripture: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
