Kids Stories

Chequita

We are not held back by the love we didn't receive in the past, but by the love we're not extending in the present. Growing up in and out of foster care, Chequita Nechelle Johnson knows about missing gaps of love in the past all too well. Born May 3, 1987 in Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA, she recalls the dreadful experience foster care was for her at first. Overtime, she became accustomed to the system and her surroundings by becoming completely numb to their effects, pretending as though they didn’t exist. Even with so much negativity in her childhood, she states that one spark that remains with her was “spending time with my Grandma and her being there for me and showing me a good outlook on life and my siblings.” The love that Chequita extends is deeply rooted through the love that she exemplifies for her children, Destinie and Makayla Johnson. She has adapted the fact that she must live her life knowing that one day she may look into her child's eyes and see herself. She accounts her overall happiest memory as being when she gave birth to both children because of the unconditional love that was instantly attached. She even wishes to have more and to expand her family in the near future. One of the hardest periods of Chequita’s life was when her kids were taken out of her custody due to actions on her own behalf. She stated this was the one thing that truly, “hurt me to my soul.” Even though she states, “I wouldn’t change anything about my life, because everything happens for a reason and everything that happened in my life made me who I am today.” She also states that she is most proud of the fact that she persevered and obtained her GED, due to her leaving school at the age of sixteen. Her decision to leave school centered on the fact that she was continually experiencing problems in the school system and she had to survive in making sure she had a place to live and other needs were taken care of. Her kids are my pride and joy, When I’m sad, they bring joy to my life.” With this joy, she goes on to inspire others that, “Obstacles are thrown at you all your life and things happen, its up to you what you do with those things that happen and you should appreciate all the things you have and not complain about life, it can only get better.” This ambitious young lady plans using her own words of advice in her own future goals. Within the next three years she plans on attending Georgia Perimeter with a major in Criminal Justice, purchasing a vehicle, accepting the management position currently being offered through her employer and living an enjoyable life with her family. Later down the road, she hopes to be nearly finished with her Educational Goals, working for a law firm, expanding her family, moving into a house and living and life to the fullest with her beautiful family.