Ema's Story

Hi, my name is Emanuela. I was born in a family with many children. My father was drinking a lot, and this made him aggressive. I remember sitting in our room with my siblings, and we couldn't go to the kitchen because my father was there, and we would go to sleep hungry.

I remember one evening I was at home alone with my younger brother, and we were getting ready for bed when my mother came. She told us to quickly leave. I didn't understand why — I was in my pajamas. I remember asking her why; she did not answer. We went to church and slept there, because my father was drunk and wanted to beat us. My mother wanted to protect us, so we slept on the chairs, and the next night at some friends' house.

I remember my father pushing us sometimes and saying bad things to my mother. I couldn't do anything to help. In order for my mom to avoid that, she would take us and lock ourselves in one room and stay there with us if he was drinking.

I became very shy. I was scared to talk to others. I never had a hug from my father — I have no idea what that is like. I saw it with others and I always wanted that, but I never had the chance to have it. He only called me once, and then he told me that he had mistakenly called me.

I watched others becoming successful, and I saw that they can — so I asked myself, why can't I do that? Maybe I'm not as privileged as they are. But this does not discourage me from working hard and getting somewhere far in life. I would like to thank those who are helping me to fulfill my dream and continue my studies — economic studies — and I would like to encourage others to work hard and not be overwhelmed by your past.