Here’s a simple video made by an 18-year-old girl named Kenna in which she uses a bunch of notecards to tell the surprising story of her life up to this point and to inspire others who may be going through a tough time in their own life.
An 18-Year-Old Girl Reveals The Surprising Story Of Her Life In One Video
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{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing courage Jenna!! I related to your story so deeply, but I never had the courage to do what you did. My pain was stuffed so deeply inside of me it took decades to come out. Keep reaching out to others. Your life is going to be amazing, my dear!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Your story will and should be told…I will spread your words
BTW: Your smile is infectious!!! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL inside and out!!
You know, I don’t know if she would see this site, and therefore your message to her. If you want her to see your message I suggest that you leave a comment in the youtube video itself. Just click on the YouTube logo in the bottom-right part of the video player.
She is a remarkably resilient young woman and we wish her continued good mental health.
Excellent, and well told.
Jenna,
As a therapist, I hear the “stories”. It is not always that I get to see the courage that it takes to change the story. You are truly an inspiration to all. You have proved that you do not have to choose to be the product of your experiences. Our experiences can shape our choices but they DO NOT define us. May your message be an instrument of change for the young that need to hear that there is always a way up.
You are awesome. Thank you!
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this.
You are inspiring and worthy of love. Keep going!
Much love to you Kenna. You are strong and intelligent and have a bright future ahead of you. Keep expressing your feelings and stay strong.
Awesome video! And I want you to know, it keeps on getting better too! Thank you for sharing your story and helping so many others have hope through your video!
Your story is very powerful and passionate. Your delivery is awesome – very creative! Stay optimistic and dream, and you’ll do great! Good luck in college.
Jenna,
You are an amazing young woman and THANK YOU for telling your story. You ARE beautiful – inside and out.
You are one tough lady. You will succeed and be an asset for the world.
It’s Kenna not Jenna.
Honesty is always inspiring. Listening with empathy leads to better speaking with care. The more we share our stories the more we can appreciate those of others and recognize our shared humanity.
Thank you for sharing, you are an amazing woman! Much love to you throughout your life!
Dear Kenna, This is beautiful and inspiring. you are a brave and beautiful young woman. On one of the cards, you declare “he destroyed me” (about your band teacher) but your strength and success indicate you are anything but destroyed. You are powerful! We all have our own “Stories” and yours is an exceptional story of triumph and survival over exception pain and loss. Sometimes empowerment comes from speaking the truth of your own story. I am glad you have found love and success and expect your life will be filled with wonderful things. The world is more beautiful because you are here. Keep on living and loving life.
Thanks for sharing. Karen
that was awesome. good for u. im glad ur happy now. I can relate to alot of that myself. although i havent forgiven all of it, or gotten over much of it, i can talk about it. i still struggle with stuff today, but i can honestly say, I am o.k. Im sooo proud of u, although i dont know u. it takes courage to do what u did, and alot of struggle and strength to deal with what u did. Im soooo HAPPY FOR U and i hope u and ur girl are happy. It don’t matter what people think, like u said all that matters is that u r happy
Thank you, sooooooooo much, I’m 40 and still struggle with my story, even though I rewrite it everyday. You are truly an inspiration, and I hope you will always be able to draw on your strength and ability to love, it is an amazing combination of spirit and resilience.
Keep keeping on!!!
ty for hanging on
Thank you, Kenna.
As a Life and Business Coach serving people now for thirty years at the workplace, walking in nature, family coaching in the living room, – helping them create live of happiness and success, I am so grateful to others who serve to coach ME. Watching your video was such a gift. I am moved and my heart is expanding in compassion. I am renewed in my enthusiasm to serve myself and others with love and respect.
May we all be well and happy and help one another.
Rob Kanzer
P.S. Thanks Josh Spector
Great job Kenna. You have a gift: the ability to communicate and touch others.
I hope you do something with this in addition to biochemistry. The new path you have turned on sounds good and I wish you all the best.
Thank you Kenna.
You found the key to survival, you WILL persevere. You have the strength and hope that I lacked thirty-five years ago, and I’m still paying for that. I hope you inspire others to find that key before it’s too late for them.
Love, success and happiness to you.
Hey Kenna,
That is just wonderful that you got past your past….I am 52 and still batteling it out, but have gotten past most of the abuse that I have met. But I know I am loved. And I got to say you are just beautiful and so smart at your age! Keep going as you are, you are an inspiration and Thanks so much for sharing….Love, Eva
As a mom of a teenage girl I thank you with all my heart! you should be so proud of who you are and who you are becoming
That is one of the most authentic and courageous things I have ever seen. You are a light. You are a blessing. Thank you.
Your a beautiful young soul Kenna
I went through my own hardship, so lets tell my story 
I am the youngest of seven kids, so we were very poor 
I was molested by my own brother for a couple of years. I was physically, emotionally and verbally abused in “primary” school. Even the teacher had it in for me some times and used to beat me with her fist infront of the class. My math teacher used to pick on me and when I started crying or started throwing up in class, he used to beat me with a cane over my hands. So at school I didn’t feel safe, at home I didn’t feel safe. So I pretty much had a crappy childhood from age 2 to age 13 
So high school was better, because I made new friends or actually my first real friends 
Mom and Dad wasn’t happy and used to fight alot. Just when everything started getting better, my mom passed away. I was left to clean, cook and do all the household chores at age 16. I never got any help from professionals, because my dad thought it would be a waste of time. Just like you I felt hopeless, angry and lonely. I just wanted to be with my mom at that time. My only help was the strengh I discovered after everything that happened to me. I finished High school being in the top 10, out of 175 pupils 
So I went to college 
My dad met another woman, at age 19 he told me to F@#* OFF, which I did. I moved cities to be with a guy I hardly knew, because I had no where else to go. I found a job and had to suddenly grow up. It was very hard to leave everything behind. Today I am still with this guy, we share a beautiful son together. Two years before my son was born, in 2005, I came out to my dad and three sisters and one brother, about what happened to me as a child, being molested. I havn’t spoken to my sisters since 2005, because they said I was lying. I only speak to my dad and my one brother. My relationship is not the same with them like it was before. So you could say I don’t have a family. I don’t feel sorry for myself. I carry on and live my life the best way I possibly can 
I admire young people like you 
Love is real and Life is beautiful 
Sometimes terrible things happen to innocent people to show the world the true beauty that lies hidden in humanity 
YOU are a beautiful person, never forget that 
YOU are a very POSITIVE person TODAY and what gets most people down, makes US even STRONGER 
Life is as hard as you make it 
We can all be successful and I know you will be 
The best advice I can give you is to FORGIVE and forget 
You cried your cry , it’s over and you can live the life you have always dreamt about 
I am a VERY HAPPY 31 year old woman 
Love, Laugh and Live, these are the three words I live by every day 
Wishing you well xxx
I HONESTLY have had a ruff life my dad has told me he didnt want me. My grandma his mom stood up for him and bashed on me 2 lemme tell you that i was only 10 when this happened he was jealous of my moms boyfriend the dude that took care of me and the one i call dad ! im only 12 know and still am going through stuff. my mom is struggling we only get $4.94 cents a month from child support! not much you know he has as much responsiblity in raising me as my mom did but hes an ass! so i have to let myself kno that my moms a good mom and dad! I used to not talk i would huddle it up all inside of me but this video has inspired me 2 talk to people thanks kenna!!!!
Absolutely beautiful and moving. So many of us can relate. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story!
J,
Good 4 U kiddo! You are a successful person. Go and do your thing and the world will be better for it.
I was a kid like you. Life is hard and what you’ve been through gives you
strength most people will never know. Good for them. Better for you.
Kenna, the Magnificent.
An amazing story, I can relate to parts. Bullying, clinical depression and feelings and thoughts of suicide rocked my world in grade 6 on. I survived. Addiction/ alcoholism was my ‘cure’. I barely survived. AA saved me @ 48 yrs. the 12 steps taught me to LIVE not survive! I’m happy too! I hope your Mother can get the same help. I’m sure your councilors have mentioned this to you previously but if they haven’t I’d recommend you try Ala-teen or Al-anon. The 12 steps can be used by anyone for any problem and help you in your joy of living! You make me happy! What a great message to start my day! LIVE on!
Kenna,
What courage and bravery you have. Thank you for standing up, for sharing your story, for speaking the truth, for being the light to so many who need it.
I know you wil accomplish great things – you are indeed a beautiful, magnificent, brave soul. You rock!!!
love,
Dawn
Omg.. ur amazing i always feel bad for my self and u made my have a larger perspective on the world. thank you