Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Hall.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Monica. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When my grandmother was born, her mother gave her up to be raised by someone else. When my grandmother had my mom, she gave her up to be raised by someone else, when my mom had me at the young age of 15 years old, she gave me up to be raised by someone else. For the entirety of my young life, my mom has been in and out of prison and has been an abuser of drugs and alcohol. I never had the opportunity to know who my biological father is or was. The only father I’ve ever known also was an abuser of drugs and alcohol and in and out of prison as well. For the first 11 years of my life, my great aunt raised me until 1997, when she suddenly passed away from lung cancer. So, from the ages of 11-16 years old, I went from house to house of relatives just to have a place to live. I was living in environments where I was physically and verbally abused. See, for me, I didn’t understand why I had to go through this. Why didn’t nobody want me? What did I do that was so bad that would cause my parents to abandon me?
So, over time, I began to develop this attitude that no one wanted to put up with me. I was mad, frustrated, I felt abandoned and unwanted. And the only way I knew how to release my anger was through fighting. I was so unstable, I never knew what love looked liked although I wanted it. So, I began to look for love within boys that I dated in high school, which resulted in me losing my purity at the age of 15 yrs. Thanks be to God, I didn’t get pregnant (Remember it was a cycle for women in my family to have babies at an early age). I struggled to find my identity, so I did whatever I could to fit in with the crowd like drinking, smoking weed, and stealing at times.
It wasn’t until God showed me his grace and placed a mentor in my life who showed me a different route, she showed me who I was and whose I was. She showed me my identity which was in Christ and told me that the things I was going through were for God’s greater glory.
I share my story because there are young girls out there who are struggling with some of the same things that I went through, and possibly more. They need a safe haven to be able to release those things and seek guidance, I want them to know they are not alone and tell them I WAS ONCE U! So, that’s why I started my program and started doing annually youth girls conferences every November.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nope, it has not been an easy journey, lol… some of the struggles have been just getting support financially, loyalty from people who you thought it would come from. The advice I would give is to trust and believe in the GIFT that God has placed on the inside of you, and not to COMPARE your journey to anyone else! You are right WHERE you’re SUPPOSE to be! TRUST THE PROCESS!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into IwasonceU story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m currently an Intervention Specialist at Kennedale Junior High, I help students figure out their triggers and how to overcome their behavior problems, by providing them with tools that can help them become a better student overall.
I specialized in mentoring at-risk girls, by helping them overcome life issues/struggles by sharing my story with them and how I overcame.
The thing I’m most proud about is being able to help these broken young girls to be better than what they see out in today’s culture.
I believe my authenticity and transparency about my upbringing sets me apart from others. Because not only do I hear them, but I can relate with them because I was once THEM!
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
1st, it would have to be my sister, Tiffany Freeman.. she was my mentor growing up and still mentors me until this day. She saw the broken/dysfunction background I came from, and still loved me unconditionally, she showed me the true meaning of what true love is and was. She introduced me to Christ which is the best gift a girl liked me at the time could use! Thanks, sissy pooh muah!!!
2nd, Tammy Franklin, the world’s greatest aunt a girl could ask for!!! She loved me as if I came from her womb. She helps mold me into the God-fearing woman I am today. She taught me how to be a wife and a loving mother and just a better overall woman. One thing that sticks with me is “Monica, BE YOU!!! Just add a lil more sugar on it!” Lol!
So, without God’s grace and these women… I don’t know where I would be!
Contact Info:
- Website: Iwasonceu.com
- Phone: 682-472-9730
- Email: Iwasonceu2017@gmail.com
- Instagram: Simplymonicahall,iwasonceu
- Facebook: Monica Hall,Iwasonceu
Image Credit:
Monica Hall
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