Meet Hailey Brooks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Brooks.

Hi Hailey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story began before I was even born. My mother was only 15 when she was pregnant with me, her second child, and my father was 18 already struggling with addictions. Both of them came from homes of addiction and abuse, and just like many, they became a part of what I call “The Revolving Door Cycle.” There are many details I will leave out of my story today, but one thing I do want to say before I begin is that I do not blame my mother or my father as they themselves were children trying to take care of children.

By the time I was born my father was in prison and my mother, who is now 16, decided that she could not do this anymore — I mean who could blame her? My sister and I ended up in the foster care system for the first time when I was 7 months old. Luckily, my grandparents stepped up and we went into their custody. When I was a small child, I remember not caring about anything other than running around the trailer park and getting my hands dirty until the streetlights came on and I knew it was time to come home. My grandmother kept telling me how lucky I was that she saved me from horrible foster homes full of abuse, and I thought I was lucky to get to live a “normal” life. Little did I know that the home I was living in was abusing me, I just thought it was normal. Even as I grew older and realized the truth of the home I was living in; I still chose to lie for my grandparents when the State came around asking questions because I loved them. I thought telling the truth was not an option because if I did, I would be taken into State custody and my grandparents would likely end up in prison.

My only fear was the revolving door. I did not know how or what or where my life would end up, the only thing I knew was I did not want to end up like anyone in my family. My plan was education — get a degree and get out. I thought it would be easy, I mean I was a straight-A student. That plan only had one flaw, I had to make it to 18. I lived in a home where I still have scars on my body that I do not even remember what blow gave it to me, a home where the words said to me cut my heart deeper than an actual knife could.

At the age of 14, I decided the fight was over. In a home full of drugs that could have easily killed me, I decided to take a bottle of water pills. Honestly, I used to lie and say that it was all a cry for help. But the truth is, I remember a part of me hoping I would not wake up. Next thing I know I had blurry bright lights in my eyes and a strange man above me asking me to wake up. I could not open my eyes, but my ears remember him hitting something on the ambulance telling his partner to turn on the lights because she may not make it. I thought I died, so when I woke up, I was relieved. Through all the questions on why I did this, I continued to lie. I continued to protect the people who never protected me.

Being sent to a psych hospital gives you a lot of time alone to think. The one thought that would not leave me was ‘tell the truth.’ I do not know what compelled me as a 14-year-old to write an email to the Department of Tennessee, but I did. I told them the truth — the drugs, the abuse in every form, the cockroach-infested trailer I lived in. I did not hold back. It was time I protect myself — and I did not care who that hurt.

My grandparents denied the drugs but nothing else. I was immediately taken into Tennessee State Custody. I bounced around from foster home to foster home until finally, I had stability. I kept up my straight As through it all. I was in survival mode. I was not going to fail. I applied to 6 colleges and basically had full rides to them all. I attended Belmont University and obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After college, I decided I needed to leave Tennessee, so I packed my bags and headed to Dallas to be a nurse at a local hospital.

I was so proud of myself. I made it. I survived. But the surviving part of my life seemed easy compared to this new chapter. It felt like I was born to endure the life I lived, the life I survived. When it came to living I had no idea where to start. My first year here was not easy. I could finally be myself, but I did not know who I even was because a part of surviving is becoming a chameleon; to mold yourself to be what people want you to be.

January 2, 2022, I looked in the mirror and did not recognize myself. I had become so many versions of myself for people that I hated the outcome of the woman I was looking at. At that moment, I decided to pick up my phone and do the one thing I always feared. Show people the real me. So, I posted a TikTok video stating I hated myself when I looked in the mirror because I did not even recognize her and I am starting 75Hard.

Little did I know it would become a beautiful journey to finding myself and healing that little girl inside of me. It also created a community full of amazing women that I am so thankful for – more than they could even realize. My journey is not done, and I am not sure where my life will end up, but I do know that I did not get stuck in the revolving door.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am mainly known for my online diary on TikTok which started as a journey of self-discovery and self-love but has turned into a beautiful diary of the good, the bad, and the ugly of my everyday life. I am not sure how else to describe my TikTok because I don’t have a “niche.” I am simply posting my life.

I think I am most proud of starting this journey to begin with — if you would have asked the 10-year-old me if this Hailey was possible, she would have laughed because her idea of making it was far less than the life I am living now.

Fun Fact. I am a CVICU nurse by trade. CVICU stands for cardiovascular intensive care unit — think heart attack, heart transplants, major heart surgeries, and even machines that act as a heart! I love what I do because I love helping people.

Do you have any advice for those looking to start their own journey?
Stop doing everything because you hate yourself and start doing it because you love yourself.

Let me explain. A lot of the decisions I made in my life were out of hate toward myself. Trying to be skinny… because I hated myself. Trying to fit in… because I hated myself. Trying to be that girl I followed on Instagram… because I hated myself. Everything was fueled by hate and never got me anywhere. Yes, the words that started this journey were, “I hate you.” It was the truth, but it is a sad truth. I wish I realized sooner that you can do things out of love. To be healthier and treat my body with the respect it deserves… because I love myself. I want to find friends who will accept me as I am now… because I love myself. To only be myself and not be anything anyone wants me to be… because I love myself. Now when I look in the mirror, I see such beauty and I say, “I love you.” At some point on my 75Hard journey, my mind shifted from hate to love and respect. That is where my greatest growth has been. I hope others can find that as well. There is such beauty in loving yourself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Haileyonthegram
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@haileyonthedaily