Tell me a little about yourself.
Can you tell me a little bit about how you grew up?
Let’s see, the first 6 years of my life were spent in and out of 6 different foster homes. I guess my childhood started to fall apart when my biological parents first met. They weren’t meant for each other. My dad was a drug cartel person. He was part of the cartel who brought hard drugs from California to the Midwest. My mom wasn’t very bright. Alcohol was her addiction of choice. My dad had his drugs and my mom had hers. And in the scheme of all that there was no room for children. So how my parents thought they could raise two kids, is beyond me.
Who mostly took care of you?
My mom worked at mcdonalds and my dad sold drugs all day, so no one really took care of us. And by “us” I mean my older sister and I. Her name is tene. We had each other, and that was about it. We lived on the river front of the Mississippi river in Quincy… and DCFS (Department of Child & Family Services) found us swimming in the river one day and took us into custody. And that is when my life in foster hood began.
What do you believe on of your greatest struggles in life was?
I think that the greatest struggle in life was finding acceptance in such a vacant childhood. I spent so many years contemplating why I was the way I was. Why wasn’t I adopted sooner? Why didn’t people like me? What was wrong with me? Maybe if I was quieter, maybe if I smiled more I would get somewhere in life. All that did to me was make me self-conscious of how I grew up and why I am the way I am today. I believe that I spent so long focusing on what was wrong with me and trying to find the acceptance from the outside world that I could never come to the realization that what I needed was the acceptance of myself. I spent years trying to fit the mold of who I thought I was supposed to be. I still find myself saying “oh I wish I was like…” Or, “I wish I could be,” It’s still a struggle trying to love myself today but I am getting better at it. I think faith has a lot to do with it. If I believe that I am amazing I am. It’s all about self-confidence and belief, that is what leads to perseverance.
Do you think that experience had any impact on the person you are today? If so, how?
My past definitely influenced the present. I have a hard time trusting people. I don’t like attachments and don’t do them. I am almost 19 and have never been in a relationship. I was never shown how to love and therefore don’t know how to reciprocate the feelings. I want to find that perfect guy out there someday but so far the examples I’ve had weren’t the best. I have a hard time letting bygones be bygones. I have a lot of trust issues, and I know this, but I also embrace my problems and accept them.
Do you feel like you still struggle a lot today?
I think that everyone struggles in some way or another each and every day. I think my biggest struggle is still trying to figure out who I am and what I’m meant to do in this life. I know that I want to make a dent in the world I just don’t know how yet.
How do you plan on using your past experiences in bettering your future ones? (when it comes to things like marriage, kids, school, etc.)
Even with all the hurt I have experienced, I do trust people. I let them in because you only live once and people are sent into ones life for a reason, even if we don’t know it at the time. The people from my past were sent to me to make me stronger and to show me what it is to be brave, which I will be.
What are some of your proudest moments/accomplishments?
I was the student body president of my high school. I got to present a speech at my graduation and was the first one to receive my diploma. I got around $29,000 in scholarships, including grants as well as the opportunity to attend summer school at Mizzou before I was even a freshman. In high school I was the multicultural club president. I was in Technical Honor Society, National Honor Society, I was editor and chief of the school paper, and assistant editor of the year book. I was team captain for cross-country and track and just an overall involved student. I usually don’t take pride in what I do, but I’m proud of what I’ve done with the little support I was provided.
What inspires you to be the positive and happy person you are today?
I’ m not completely sure. I don’t really have a complete inspiration. Knowing where I came from and where I am now is what keeps me going. I know that I came from nothing and I’ve made something for myself even if it’s a little bit, but what keeps me going is the fact that I know one day I will make a dent in this world and people will remember me, not that helpless little girl or the confused young woman I am now, but Sinead Brink, a name to be reckoned with.
Let’s say there is a girl out there somewhere going through similar experiences, which I’m sure there is. What would you tell her that you wish someone had told you?
As long as you love yourself and others you don’t really need anything else. Because when you love yourself you aren’t missing out on anything. There is a source of strength within being able to do that. When you love others it is a reflection of how you want to be treated; then love will come. A lot of people told me that it will get better, and I never wanted to believe it, but now looking back I can see that even though my problems weren’t completely relieved they did get better and they will continue to get better!
