Golfers offer lifeline to struggling Langley students

“A single conversation, a safe place after school, or simply knowing that someone truly believes in you – that is all it takes to change the entire trajectory of a youth’s life.”

Isis Goode shared that thought and a huge thank you to a packed banquet hall at Newlands Golf & Country Club recently, at the end of the Langley School District Foundation’s 19th annual fundraising golf tournament and dinner.

The 23-year-old Langley City mother explained how not so long ago she received the critical help she needed – thanks in part to the Langley School District Foundation and other support agencies and programs within Langley – to change the course of her life for the better.

Having grown up in Langley, she was born to a mother struggling with addiction. At an early age, she was put into the foster care system. While her mother fought to get clean and get her back, Goode started demonstrating behavioural issues by age eight.

“I stopped listening to the adults in my life, because they stopped listening to me,” she recalled, noting she didn’t want to be at home, but school was even worse.

At age 12, she confided in a teacher that she didn’t want to be here anymore, and thankfully that teacher listened and helped get her into a program that ensured she had access to food if needed, free counselling, summer programs, but most importantly adults who listened to her and cared.

In high school, however, she lost connection with those supports and fell into what she now recognized as depression. She felt totally alone again.

“I looked for a sense of belonging anywhere and everywhere I went.”

Making a long series of unhealthy decisions, she was kicked out of home and school, and while surfing from couch to couch, she developed her own addictions and by age 15, was pregnant.

She managed to complete a drug recovery program and get clean for the sake of the “sweet girl who would light up my world.”

Tragically, however, Aubrey passed at only one month and fives days old, and fair to say Goode spiraled.

“The heartache, grief, and trauma were too much,” she said, noting that by the time she was 16 she’d tried on five different occasions to take her own life.

“I knew I wanted better and needed better for myself,” Goode said, and thankfully that’s what she got when she was introduced to Project Resiliency, Vanguard school, and other programs and supports offered through the school district, Encompass, and the community.

“I sure gave them a run for their money though. I went in with no trust left, brick walls built up high and wide with no entry and no exit.”

She’d lost all motivation to fight for herself. Thankfully, she said, adults and peers in her life valued her when she couldn’t, and through their encouragement and support, restored her confidence, health, and desire to live.

Now, as a mother to her second daughter, two-year-old Nova, Goode aspires to become a youth worker and help people like herself.

“I find comfort knowing that my child will never have to endure what I went through thanks to the amazing programs and people in this community,” she said, expressing her appreciation for all the supports available to students and youth like her.

From mental health support to food programs, from outreach services to child care, from recreational access to , she said all of this help “changed the trajectory of this youth’s life… I truly believe I might not be here today without the ongoing support of the Langley School District and foundation… So I want to say thank you.”

Student mental health is reaching a tipping point, said Alicia Rempel, executive director of the Langley School District Foundation.

“Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges are on the rise,” said Rempel. “The foundation supports many students who cannot afford the cost of private counselling and who need help now. We don’t believe youth can wait.”

That’s why this year’s Tee Off For Langley Schools was fundraising specifically for student mental health initiatives.

While they didn’t reach their $150,000 goal this year, Rempel said the amount raised from the golf tournament will go a long ways to ensuring other local students – like Goode – can access support without barriers.

“I’m sharing exciting news that we reached a fundraising milestone of $107,000 at the event,” said Rempel. “We are thrilled to be able to continue to support Langley students and their mental wellbeing through the funds raised.”