Today, going home after a long day of school has changed for senior Kevin Nguyen since the stress of the past has gone away. He no longer feels that he does not belong in his home, or rather, the place he used to call home. 

“I was having a lot of family issues,”  Nguyen said. “It pushed me to the point where I  was frequently thinking about suicide.”

Nguyen did not have time to find a job and place to live. He did not think about the difficulty of leaving home due to his desire to get away quickly from the negativity surrounding him. At that point, Nguyen felt he had no choice but to move out before his situation worsened.

“It happened overnight,” Nguyen said. “I packed what I could in an overnight bag and just left.”

For Nguyen, escaping the harsh environment gave him a sense of safety. But after leaving, he had no place to call home.  

“[After] moving out at 15, I could not find a stable area to live in, so I would sleep at various friends’ houses,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen soon found security with his close friend, senior Crystal Fuller and her family. However, even though he had a new home, Nguyen realized that having a roof over his head would not stop the problems he faced, and without the financial support of this parents, he had to find other methods of making money.

“I am a part of a lot of organizations and they all require money, so I try to be dedicated,” Nguyen said. “But it is difficult to explain to the directors and the teachers why I can’t even pay $20 for something. I’ve had to work unofficial jobs, like mowing lawns, in order to make money to pay for necessities.”

Even with the responsibilities Nguyen now has, he believes that his decision saved his life.

“I probably would not be here right now if I had not [moved out],” Nguyen said.

But Nguyen is no longer going through it alone. He believes that it has not only been beneficial to the friendship between him and Fuller, but also to his personal life.

“Some of my friendships have grown stronger, because I am able to share my story with them,” Nguyen said. “I am Vietnamese, but I grew up learning English. And it was a really big barrier in my family. One thing I really enjoy is when I come [to my new] home I can really talk to them and share my feelings, which is something I could not do [before] because of the language barrier.”

Although his situation of having to move out was not ideal, he believes his advice can apply to anyone contemplating moving out.

“Before moving out, look at your situation and think about how it will affect you and your future,” Nguyen said. “I have learned to keep my head up high and not to let others put me down anymore.”