From the office of Kennesaw State University President Dan Papp, you can see the sun setting over Kennesaw Mountain, its rays stretching out from the horizon as another day is done. In the distance, you can also see a neon Waffle House sign.
A few years ago, a young teen mom and her baby were living in a car parked in that Waffle House parking lot, with a jacket and baby blanket to keep them warm at night. When the sun rose, the teen's mom - a Waffle House waitress who worked the overnight shift - would drive her to school and keep the baby during the day.
That was Felicia Villegas' life as a Marietta High School sophomore.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Today, Felicia is 20, working full time and hoping to attend Kennesaw State University soon. She shared the story of the harrowing sexual abuse she endured as a child and homelessness she endured as an adolescent in a recent
. She became pregnant at 13 as a result of the abuse; her abuser is now serving a life sentence.
A number of readers have responded since the story ran. A Marietta resident provided a backpack full of school supplies and a lunchbox for Felicia's now 6-year-old daughter, who is in the first grade. Others have contributed to a fund set up for Felicia at First Landmark Bank, at 307 N. Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060. (Banking officer Whitney Freaney is the contact if you're interested in helping. Whitney's direct line is 770-799-7960 and email is wfreaney@firstlandmarkonline.com.)
A team from Kennesaw State University invited Felicia on a campus tour. President Papp personally invited her to his office and chatted with her for a few minutes.
"Are you ready to start college?" the genial Papp asked. Felicia, usually outgoing, confident and bubbly, was too nervous to say much. She nodded and said, "Yes."
"We'll do everything we can to help you," Papp said, "but guess who's got to do all the studying?"
Felicia lit up at that point.
"That's OK," she said. "I love school!"
She works full time at the Zaxby's near WellStar Kennestone Hospital. With her next paycheck she will pay to register for the SAT, which she plans to take in October. She's hopeful she'll be able to enroll at KSU in January.
When she does start school she'll be able to do some classwork online thanks to Kim Gresh, a longtime, active supporter of the YWCA of Northwest Georgia. The Y twice took in Felicia and her baby when they had nowhere to live, and keeps in close contact. Executive director Holly Comer, who arranged for Felicia's busted A/C unit to be fixed, joined her and Kim for lunch recently.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Once enrolled at KSU, Felicia hopes to study criminal psychology. She'd like to work with law enforcement and help other young victims of abuse.
Given her past Felicia is not big on physical contact. She doesn't like crowds and winces when people try to hug her. After we left President Papp's office she was trembling, her eyes glistening. I put my hand lightly on her back, as a show of support.
"How do you feel?" I asked.
Felicia looked out the window. Her eyes were not fixed in the direction of the Waffle House but rather toward the horizon and the sun's rays, reaching endlessly out toward forever.
"I feel alive," she said.
The YWCA of Northwest Georgia continues to assist Felicia and helps other abuse victims. Click here for more information or to make a donation. Work has just begun on next year's fundraising gala and is in need of silent auction items such as restaurant or hotel gift cards, tickets to sports events or cultural institutions.. Email development directors Hope Felshaw at hfelshaw@ywcanwga.com or Kristi Storey at kstorey@ywcanwga.com . if you'd like to contribute an item or sponsor the event.
Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
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