Effects of a Broken Family (02:45)

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Lydia describes her unstable childhood, having gone through dozens of social works and foster homes, and family suicides. Despite a happy young childhood in Florida, she quickly became aware of her single mother's drug addiction.

State Intervention (03:09)

After Lydia's mother gave her Valium to cover up her prostitution, she was incarcerated by the state. After giving up her rights to Lydia, her mother committed suicide, making her an orphan of the state.

Identity Crisis (01:51)

Lydia turned to drugs and alcohol in her isolation, living up to whatever delinquent labels she was given. Her close relationship with her cousin provided the only normalcy in her life. Lydia's life turned for the worse when she found out her cousin had been murdered.

Breaking the Cycle (02:43)

Desperate for someone to show they would care about her, Lydia jumped from foster home to foster home, acting out at families that wanted to adopt her. For Lydia, the only way to break out of her family's cycle of dysfunction was to focus on her schooling.

Enduring Trauma (02:05)

Lydia offers advice to teens struggling with life. She explains how self-expression helps to inspire yourself and build your own positive identity. Lydia relates her goal of helping other teens through situations similar to hers.

Lydia's Story: What Are Your Thoughts? (02:17)

Teens reflect on Lydia's story, and the tremendous stress inflicted upon her from a young age. They discuss why the school environment might be better than the home environment for children of broken families.

Healing Through Self-Expression (03:44)

Dr. Yashar Khosroshahi and Ayla Khosroshahi explain the impact of Lydia's belief structure on her life. When she felt safe to express herself at school, she was able to build an identity separate from her circumstances.

Credits: Broken Families: Lydia’s Story (01:20)

Credits: Broken Families: Lydia’s Story