Mayra* is a 17-year-old in our RYSE Above program, which serves youth with substance use disorders. Recently, she volunteered with us, helping assemble over 1,200 backpacks with school supplies for the youth and families in our programs. Community service is part of her recovery. 

In the afternoon, when staff and volunteers broke for lunch, Mayra sat with a group of Stanford Sierra staff. The staff sensed that Mayra was a bit uneasy, so they shared a little about themselves to break the ice. Mayra responded by opening up too. She confided that she was only there to fulfill a community-service obligation and that her mind was elsewhere. Her dad had been deported recently, leaving her mom to raise three kids on her own. Mayra was often worried someone might take her mom away too.   

Mayra was grateful to be six months sober but concerned that her alcoholism might have decreased her chances of going to college. Her grades had suffered while she was drinking. She wanted to turn her life around and be there for her family but worried she might have irreparably harmed her chances of success. 

The Stanford Sierra staff acknowledged what Mayra was going through. She faced serious, life-altering challenges. Some of the staff had been through similar challenges, and some of them were also concerned for their family’s safety. Their stories seemed to comfort Mayra. Strength is often found in numbers.  

The backpacks distribution event continued the following week, but the staff member who translated for our Spanish-speaking youth and families was out sick. The other staff were pleasantly surprised to see Mayra again, showing up to volunteer her translation services. This time, she wasn’t there because she had to be. She was there because she wanted to be. 

Mayra’s RYSE Above social worker shared that she will soon complete her probation. She has set a goal to distance herself from friends who continue drinking, focus on her classes, and make up for the subjects where she struggled last year. Mayra hopes to pursue a career in engineering and is excited about her future. 

Stanford Sierra Youth & Families understands the power of connection. We acknowledge the trauma our youth endure, and we help them identify and cultivate their strengths. We envision our communities with safe, lifelong connections for all young people, built and strengthened through generations of empowered families. 

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.​