Four Leaf Clover--Saulina

The only thing that is significant in my life since i was born is my name “Saulina Desire Lopez”, some may ask why do i say this? But few of you i have let in my closet ; I told you my life story. The reason why i am the way i am. I remember as a young girl, I was living in two bedroom apartment with both parents and my older brother saul. Until the dark gloomy day came when my brother saul was at school while I was home when it happened! My dear mother lost it; my father came home. I heard screaming and yelling from my sweet innocence safe haven which was my room. I came out all I could see is mother and father fighting about how my father had another family with other women. My mom refused to forgive him so she demanded the papers to be signed! I can picture my father reciting their vows to her “until death do us apart, IS ONLY YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS MARRIAGE!!” then, it got real silent and blurry from that moment on. Minutes later I could the ambulance down the street so I came out of the hallway. The front door was wide open and father couldn't be found. Cops and a familiar face (my aunt Irene) who pulled me away from the window in the living room. That’s all I could remember clearly then life was on fast forward until it was slow motion again the day I was no longer a normal child in society. I was put in the foster care system exact day September 16,2008 is when I discovered that I was on my own. I grew up in Whittier, Los Angeles then moved out to Fontana. It was already my second home, so I wanted it to be my sweet home but it was a nightmare. I started to see my mother after we went to court so she could ask for mandatory visiting twice a month and weekly phone calls. It was like a movie scene sitting in that courtroom with someone talking for me and telling the judge what I need and want as an 8 year old. I lived there for about 6 years but enough was enough, I got tired of being a household maid for them. I always got in trouble for the littlest things then it got worse as I turned 12,13 and 14. They pushed me to my limits with the hitting, down talking on me. “How I would become anything in life!” “How I would not graduate from high school nor make it to college without becoming pregnant at 16 like my mother.” My social finally gave me the strength to leave from that poisonous home. I moved to Rialto to another uncomfortable place I called home for only 8 months; until my sweet parents found me! My amazing social worker came to take me out for lunch which was our monthly visit. We were on the freeway on the 210 heading to Norco to her husband's family BBQ party. Then SHE POPPED THE QUESTION, that changed my life for the better. “Saulina, how would you feel if you came to live with me and James and of course the two sweet dogs we have?” I literally shed a tear with the most genuine smile and my cheeks warm. From that moment on; I came something and someone with big dreams from a dysfunctional family. I finally came stable in a household of two parents who were happily married with two dogs and a bedroom that I could call mine forever. I no longer needed to watch my own back and watch out for myself, Alicia and James became my safe haven. They allowed me to grow as a young,independent, beautiful women who now is going to graduate in couple in 21 days from High school who is committed to the University of La Verne with a full ride including books and dorming! Yes, I have done it! I am very proud to share my story because I was cursed but blessed with experiences and wisdom that shaped who I am now. I learned that bad situations sometimes have to happen before the beautiful flowery sun comes out.