- Vee Sandifer shares her story of escaping abuse in Georgia to reunite with her mother in Utah.
- Facing financial strain, she found support through the Youth Futures program, aiding her success.
- Sandifer graduated from high school and plans to study social work.
OGDEN — Vee Sandifer made the decision one afternoon to find her mother in Utah. After staying with her father and stepmother in Georgia for years, suffering physical and mental abuse, she knew it was time to leave.
"It was a huge toll on me," Sandifer said. "I thought, 'I can't do this anymore. I have to leave."
At 16 years old, she put on a pair of Crocs, grabbed a lightweight jacket and boarded the Amtrak to Utah.
Sandifer was marked as a runaway and now had the extra stress of being followed by the police and detectives. When she arrived in Utah, she found her mother and showed up on the woman's doorstep after nearly five years of no contact. She was greeted warmly by her mother and two younger siblings.
What initially began as a beautiful reunion quickly became an extra stressor for Sandifer.
Being a full-time high school student, trying to stay enrolled in sports activities and working two jobs became her new normal. Due to her mother's diabetic condition and lack of employment, Sandifer had to support her family financially in whatever ways she could. She took jobs at Burger King, worked at a day care center and eventually became a CNA. Throughout the whole process, she was also trying to legally adopt her younger sister.
"After a while, I was the only one trying to pay the bills," Sandifer explained. "Then we got evicted."
During this incredibly difficult time in her life, Sandifer discovered Youth Futures, an organization that supports youth in need of extra help and care. Through the organization, Sandifer received help with case management, enrolled in Ogden High School with her younger brother, ate home-cooked meals, did her laundry and found a therapist to help her. She also received new winter clothing to help keep her warm.
Sandifer's case manager, Tiffany Garza, says the kids who participate in Youth Futures begin to find the motivation they need to keep going. "They start getting jobs, and we had a lot of residents graduate high school this year, as well," she said.
The additional support was life-changing for Sandifer.
"I feel like everybody here is a therapist in their own way. They listen to you talk. They are always there," she said. "It's always good to have an older person to lead you on the right path. … They helped me understand that I was capable."
Sandifer graduated from Ogden High in May. The moment represented a huge step in her journey and was a testament to her resilience and determination.
"To this day, I still feel like it's unbelievable. When I first got out here, I didn't think that I was ever going to be able to work until I turned 18," Sandifer said. "I was really depressed and down. Luckily, they have therapy here as well. … It helped me figure out that I am capable of doing what I want to do. What I come from does not make me who I am today."
Sandifer plans to use her story to help others. She aspires to attend college to study social work and case management. With her experience in therapy, she hopes to be the kind of therapist who can make a difference in people's lives.
Youth Futures has taught me that you can come from a 'bad' background and still turn out good. There are so many resources here and so many kids that could use it.
–Vee Sandifer, Youth Futures participant
She credits Youth Futures as one of the primary factors contributing to her success.
"Youth Futures has taught me that you can come from a 'bad' background and still turn out good. There are so many resources here and so many kids that could use it," Sandifer said. "Everybody should know about it because it is there to help you. It's not going anywhere."
Sandifer hopes that her story can inspire other youth to change their lives and keep fighting.
"You can do it. You just have to believe in yourself and have a good support system to help lead you through," Sandifer shared.
Her story is similar to many of those within Youth Futures. The support they receive can help them transform their lives.
"You really see big changes as they stay here," said Garza. "Preventing youth homelessness also prevents adult homelessness. We're helping them at this early age, so that way, they don't go into adult homelessness. It's so good to encourage them to build these life skills."
Youth Futures is entirely donation-run. For more information on how to get involved, visit the Youth Futures website.
