My name is Mary Hill. I was born in Seoul, Korea, and moved to the U.S. when I was a kid. My father was in the Army, so we were always moving.

                                                                         

As a child faced with family issues and the challenges of living without the guidance of my parents, I have been in and out of the streets since the age of 10. In addition to being a homeless kid, I also could not go through high school. This exposed me to drug dealers, drug addicts, and murderers, and watching others being abused (children and adults) to the point where it became normal. Being a victim of sexual, mental, and other demoralizing abuse led me to become an alcoholic, smoking weed and cigarettes for almost ten years.

 

My dad passed when I was 15, leaving my mom with no other option than juggling the many facets of life to make ends meet to care for my siblings. Moreover, even though my mom could communicate in English, she could barely read and write it. Soon after, my mom was having a hard time caring for my siblings, so I had to step in at an early age, helping them in their times of need. At this time, I started building a relationship with my family. The good thing was that it allowed me to work things out, heal and unite with my family again since I’ve long been separated from them.

 

At the time I turned 16, I enrolled in Job Corp to get my G.E.D. and certificate in Business and Clerical Occupations. Later on, I earned my degree in Accounting and obtained my License in Notary Public and Tax Preparer. I remember when I was 18, with little or no knowledge about my personal health, my Doctor basically scared me to stop drinking and doing drugs. His reason is that it will severely affect my child negatively.

 

In 2011, my mom and sister passed within two months apart. During that time, I end up caring for 11 children for several years on my own. The sad truth about this was that I couldn’t get any financial assistance because they claimed a person could only have six children per household, and I refused to separate my family. It turned out to be one of the hardest and most challenging experiences that I have faced in my entire life. Having been to several support groups, I had a first-hand experience with the Foster Care system. Also, I learned about the many struggles other parents, guardians, and relatives have to go through in caring for their kids. All these experiences inspired the birth of Mary Alice Services.

 

As I maneuvered through life, I learned to be strong as I rose above every circumstance. Now in my elevated position, I found myself being surrounded by successful people who I felt were far better than me. Over time, I started feeling insecure that I wasn’t good enough and smart enough to be who I wanted to be. It got to the point that I even became embarrassed about my own life, doubted myself, and felt unworthy of certain things.

 

As I grew older, I realized that I went through nothing to be ashamed of. What I did in my past is not who I am now. What was done unto me was not a reflection of who I am but a reflection of those who harmed me. Being a victim and conqueror of some devastating life situations, I learned to use my predicaments as a stepping stone for me. So, instead of feeling guilty and ashamed, I learned to feel blessed that I overcame what I’ve been through and proud of whom I am becoming. Besides, I learned there are many people who went through similar experiences as mine, and my story can be a great motivation. Now, I have dedicated my life to helping others live a more accomplished life through Mary Alice Services.

 

Mary Alice Services is established with the sole purpose of helping others like myself care for and raise children to attain their fullest potential and create a better atmosphere for themselves. As an exemplary teacher, I have used my life experiences to help those who have been through some traumatic life experiences pursue change and come out of the pits of despair.

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Understanding how it feels to be in dire need of the necessities of life, I pioneered this organization to give hope to those in need through my Independent Living, Entrepreneurship, Alternative Therapy, and Mentor program. I also started a nonprofit organization called “BFRG (Be Fierce, Resilient, & Great) Foundation” to further assist people with basic necessities along with other services to soar through their daily living. Mary Alice Services will be donating some of the proceeds to the nonprofit organization to help support its mission.

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At the moment, BFRG Foundation is working towards securing a house so homeless people can come to take a shower, do laundry, eat, use computers for job search, and more. The house will also help them come together to work on creating goals that will help them live more accomplishing life. Another project the BFRG Foundation is also working on is securing an office or facility area with a kitchen and bathroom, so children can learn how to cook, and participate in workshops and other activities to help them become independent.

 

Since discovering that helping others is my purpose in life, I started seeing beyond the outer appearance. I believe everyone has a story that led them to where they are now. Some became a product of their environment, whether it is on drugs being a drug dealer or being homeless or what have you. I feel that as long as a person lives another day, they have hope for changing for the better. Using Mary Alice Services as a platform, I want to be a part of that change. Embracing the virtues of sympathy and love, I am friendly and always relate with people in a compassionate manner.