(Keena Armstrong sits at her kitchen table looking through her family pictures. Photo taken by Tatiana Charlot)
Raised in domestic abusive homes and fearful for what her future may hold, Keena Armstrong spent most of her life in foster homes. The excruciating agony she experienced growing up is what makes her a strong and resilient woman today.
Pain and agony seemed to follow her everywhere she went. At the
age of 11, her mother lost custody of her and her siblings, because of drug
addictions. Despite her mother’s flaws, Keena still has an everlasting
love for her mother.
“My mother has always been heavily addicted to crack cocaine; so
it makes it hard for me to really get close to her,” said Armstrong with a
cheerless facial expression. “However, I do have an undying love for her and a
bond that no matter how hard I try, it cannot be shaken.”
Prior to her mother losing her rights, Armstrong lived with her
grandmother and mother on and off. It was then where she first handedly
observed domestic violence, as well as emotional abuse. She can remember
“nights sitting and shaking in fear,” witnessing the brutal beatings that
resulted in busted lips and swollen eyes that reshaped her mother’s face as
well as the agonizing verbal abuse that her grandmother endured from her
grandfather.
Between the ages of 11 and 18, Armstrong went through four foster
homes, where she said three of her guardians were “evil spirited.” She was
physically abused and emotional abused in these homes by her foster guardians. They would lock her into dark rooms and constantly beat her with belts, wires, and extension cords. They would also force her to eat foods that she strongly disliked. Becoming fed up, she ran away and lived at a nearby park for 3 days. Years after she fled, she went to a local college
in Iowa, but then desired to come to Florida and attend Florida A&M University.
“I wanted to start fresh,” said Armstrong. “I felt like I can
start my own legacy with no attachments to anyone or anything.”
She drove “Ruby,” her 2002 Jeep Liberty, headed toward a new
beginning when her dream was nearly shattered. When she reached Alabama, her
car broke down and was immediately repossessed with all of her belongings
because of lack of car payments. She only had time to pick out a few clothes,
shoes, and pictures. Despite these obstacles, she continued her journey to the sunshine state with hopes of escaping her dark world by riding on a Greyhound bus.
Armstrong thought that nothing could go wrong, now that she was away from her family and friends in Iowa; but she was wrong. While residing in Tallahassee, she was evicted
from College Club Townhomes after living there for five months without paying
any rent.
“Being an out-of-state student, financial situations were hard,”
said Armstrong. “I didn’t have a job, and FAMU was taking a long time to
process my paperwork to refund me my money.”
She later moved to Adams Pointe, where everything slowly started
falling into place. Her roommate, Jaleesa Hunter, describes Armstrong as a
“friendly and outgoing individual.”
“When I first met Keena I thought something was wrong with her,”
said Hunter. She was too friendly. As I got to know her, I realized that she is
very nice and talkative.”
Armstrong is also very active on FAMU’s campus and takes her
academics very seriously. As a fourth-year psychology student, she made the
dean’s list last year, and receives several scholarships. She also ran for
Queen of Orange and Green earlier last year.
“There
were times when Keena became overwhelmed and started doubting her chances of
winning, said fourth-year criminal justice student from Miami, Danielle Forbes.
“Unlike others, she was passionate about being Queen if Orange and Green and so
she worked hard.”
Although Armstrong did not finish on top of the race, she did not
let that stop her from remaining active on campus.
Having to be a part of something, Armstrong is a member of many
organizations, such as House Arrest 2, and Psychology Club. Longing to give
back and aid others, Keena joined SISTUHS, Inc., a community service
organization, where she was later appointed political action chair.
“SISTUHS, Inc. is filled with positive Nubian queens that serve as
role models for other women,” said Keena. “Just like our motto, we aim to
encourage strength, initiative, spirituality, tenacity, unity, health and
substance.”
This campus organization participates in numerous community
service projects. They volunteer at the local Boys and Girls Club, Miracle Hill
Nursing home and Big Bend Shelter.
“Community
service means so much to Keena,” said past president Keisha Ervilus. Her
passion for helping others and giving back to the community is seen through her
hard work and activeness in our community service events.”
One of Armstrong’s desires is helping people. Last year, she
helped her roommate, Gertrude “Gert” Demetreus, get into school by raising money
to help cover her class expenses.
“Keena is very supportive,” said Gertrude. “She had house parties,
where she gained a great amount of revenue that helped me pay for school. I am
very thankful for her.”
Today, Armstrong awaits a response from a summer internship with
the Orphan Foundation of America, which she applied for earlier this year.
“Not only is this organization on Wall Street, and that it’s very
beneficial, but I will be around
people that went through similar events that I went through while in foster
care,” said Armstrong. “This is something that I really want.”
Armstron no longer lives in a dark place and her future is as bright as ever.
By Tatiana Charlot
Armstron no longer lives in a dark place and her future is as bright as ever.
By Tatiana Charlot
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