As a young teenager, Elizabeth Keeler was forced to leave her childhood home in Stanstead due to a violent family member. She spent two years in Ontario, taking on much of the childcare of her younger half-siblings, before returning to Stanstead at age 15 - unanchored and overwhelmed. The trauma of her early teen years and the anxiety of starting over at a new school left her vulnerable to giving up on her education. But Elizabeth made a brave choice: she walked back through the doors of Phelps and asked for help - a remarkable step for a teenager facing so much. Since then, Elizabeth has shown extraordinary resilience. As our Executive Director says, “We’ve seen Elizabeth grow from a quiet, introverted girl into a young woman who tries new
things, steps outside her comfort zone, and believes in herself.” Elizabeth puts it this way: “School has always been hard for me. I never wanted to drop out, but staying positive was tough. I came to Phelps hoping for a good study routine, but I got so much mor—Phelps became my support system. They’re my second family. If I’m not home, I’m at Phelps. It’s one of the few places where I feel like myself.” Today, Elizabeth continues to persevere. She is at Cegep studying education, running her own small business, and volunteering as a tutor in our elementary homework program. She always goes above and beyond - because she knows we’re here for her, just as she’s now here for us.