Foster child? Teen encourages others to live beyond their labels
A lot like many teenagers, Elyse Bailey is learning how to express herself.
The 16-year-old from Port St. Lucie is also learning to own her challenging beginnings.
Bailey says she’s no different than the opening line of a speech she penned, “Newborn. Premature. Drug exposed. Foster care. This is not the best way to start life but this is what I was given.”
Despite being dealt a hard hand at such an early age, Bailey wants people to know that there’s more to her story than just the cover.
She’s overcome challenges early on and found acceptance at her Boys and Girls Club and through her adopted family.
“I feel like being adopted puts you in a lot of labels. You get questions of, ‘were you in foster care? Is that your real family? Do you technically look at them as your family?’ All those questions from me are, ‘yeah, my family is my family,’” said Bailey…
