sharing our experiences

Marie Ann's Story

My name is Marie Ann. I am 38 years old. When I was a little girl, I was abused by my father and my Uncle Charlie molested me. When I was in kindergarten, my Dad didn't want me to go to school. He didn't want me to learn nothing. He didn't want me to be like other people. He wanted me to look after my brothers. I also had to do house work for him every day. He hit me with his buckle. When I was 9 years old he raped me. I hadn't been to school for a very long time. I ran away from home. I went to my grandmother's apartment. The cops took me back home that night. Then he beat me up again. The day I ran away my Uncle Charlie touched me in the afternoon and my father touched me at night time, that's why I ran away.

Then I went to the police station and they phoned the Children's Aid. Then they took me to the Sick Children's Hospital. I went to a farm for abused children. I had school at the farm. I stayed on the farm until I was 12 years old. I didn't like it there. I wished somebody would adopt me. When I was 13 years old I went to school. I like it. They learn your name. They show us to read and write. We went to Winnipeg with our school. I like it. I quit school because I was on drugs. When I went and got help and my family put me down. I was the black sheep of the family.

I am very happy I am back to school at Beat the Street. Now I am back to school and I am doing well. When I have finished school, I love to help children in day care. I want to read to them and paint with them. When I was very small, I wished someone would talk to me about my problems. I would have finished my schooling by now.