Adrianna Rivera is not like the other kids

Hi! My name is Adrianna. And I’m not like the other kids. 

I mean, I know that to be a fact. But for the past week or so, I struggled to find a word that describes why exactly I’m “not like the other kids”. 

Then it hit me. I'M A SURVIVOR. 

See, the thing is, for so long I would complain about my life. I remember being a small child and being angry at God because my life wasn’t likeany one I knew. I never met my father, my mother had a loose hand, and I seemed to never be able to finish an entire school year in just ONE school. I spent most of my life back and forth between my grandmother's  care and my mom’s. I’ve lived in shelters, been exposed to abusive caregivers, and learned what it felt like to go to bed hungry. I even lived out of a car with my mom for a bit. I was sexually assaulted as a child and felt like I was haunted for most of my life.. I couldn’t understand why, even with all the faith I had, I has to go through so much hurt. And I came to realize, I’m meant to be a survivor. I have survived childhood traumas, 6 years in the army and time in a warzone, and being a victim of bullying, even in adulthood! 

And so now, I’m honored to be who I am. I take my insecurities and wear them proudly. I do my best to give my children the life I never had. I advocate for body positivity, awareness of mental health, and rebuilding and preserving my culture. And I look at every day, every challenge, and every setback with a smile, because I know that I will survive that, too.