Seventeen - Seventeens Inspiring True Teen Stories

Even though Abby, 18, was the only black girl in her circle of friends, she never felt like her skin color set her apartuntil she came face-to-face with an ugly attitude.

As told to: Kierna Mayo

Id been looking for an after-school job for months to help save up for college, so I was super-excited to start my first day as a hostess at a trendy restaurant. I felt really lucky because my friend Becca offered to train me as her replacement after she quit to focus on school. When we got to the restaurant, I stood at the hostess stand and memorized the menu. It wasnt required, but I wanted to make a good impression when the manager arrived. Id never met him and really wanted him to like me.

Fifteen minutes later, the manager walked in and things got weird. Hi, Im Abby, I said, reaching out to shake his hand. He paused, barely touching me. Awkward. I wondered what could be wrong. I thought maybe he was just upset about Becca leaving. Then he asked to speak to her privately. Something just didnt feel right, but I told myself it would all be fine.

I was so wrong. Becca came back gasping and crying hysterically. He said he wont hire you because youre black! she blurted out.

Suddenly, I felt like there was a whirlwind around me. I just stood there, stunned, unable to grasp what she was saying. Hes afraid hell lose business when customers see you at the counter, she continued. I didnt feel anythingnot anger, sadness, or fear. All I could think was, Is this really happening?

FINDING THE COURAGE

Race has never been an issue for me, even though there arent many black people in my hometown. Everyone is totally open-minded; thats why I couldnt believe I had actually been so blatantly discriminated against. Im the only black girl in my circle of friends, but no one treats me differently. Ive known my best friends, Lily, Irene, Becca, and Alice, for yearstheyre like my sisters.

It was all so confusing to me that I didnt know what to do. Im a pretty quiet person and I dont like to draw attention to myself. On our way home, Becca went from crying to being pissed. You have to fight this, she said. When I told Lily, Irene, and Alice, they told me to fight too. Part of me wanted to forget the whole thing, but my friends anger made me realize I had to stand up for myself and for anyone else who could be in a similar situation. Alices dad is a lawyer, and he took my case for free! We filed a lawsuit for discrimination and a violation of my civil rights.

BANDING TOGETHER

As word spread around school, everyone asked how to help. It was crazy to see how many people cared. All of a sudden, girls who had never spoken to me asked me if things were okay. I wasnt used to being the topic of so much conversation. It was like everyone was rooting for me. A few weeks later, Lily mentioned staging a protest to make more people aware. Lets not make it a big thing, I said, resisting. I didnt want anyone to think that I was upsetting our peaceful town. But once again, my friends had my back, and I felt braver with their support.

To let people know the plan, we sent out text messages and created a Facebook Event group. On the day of the protest, about 20 people met up at my house, made posters, then walked over to the restaurant where even more kids met us. Up until the last minute I felt like a wimp, but I was relieved and exhilarated that we were actually taking a stand. People were honking in support as they drove by; it was so powerful to see! The restaurant manager even came outside and talked to my lawyer and to the police who were there. But we had done our research and knew that as long as we didnt block the entryway, we were legal. There was nothing he could do to stop us. That day, I knew I was making a difference.

FIGHTING FAIR

The restaurant denied discriminating against me, but I know how terrible it felt to be judged by my skin color, and I wanted to do whatever I could to stop this from happening again. After about a year of back-and-forth, my lawyer and I settled the case with the restaurant for $25,000more than I would have made by working there. Im using some for college and saving the rest. My real reward, though, was when the owners were issued a permanent court order saying they could not discriminate.

My friends got me through a situation I never imagined Id be in and encouraged me to take action. Together we made a difference. When something happens that isnt right, having friends behind you makes you so much stronger. Its when you look over and see people standing with you that you know youll have the strength to stand up for yourself.

What If It Happens to You?

• Write it out. If you feel that youre being treated differently because youre a girl, or youre gay, or because of your race, jot down the time, day, and everything that happened. Remember any specific quotes? No detail is too small! Youll need that info if you decide to do something about it later.
• Dont be ashamed. Even if youre not sure whether what happened was discrimination or plain old rudeness, dont keep it to yourself! Tell your friends, a teacher, or another adult to get advice and to help you make sense of the situation.
• Get answers. If you know you have to take a stand, check out aclu.org for info on how to take action.

When Bree, 17, lived through an accident that took her leg, her drive to compete kicked into even higher gearand with the help of her team, shes determined to get back on the field.

As told to: Jessica Press

One perfectly sunny Saturday last fall, my club soccer team was holding a car wash fund-raiser and having the best time. We were in shorts and bikinis and had so much to be happy aboutwed won our games the weekend before and we were excited for a game the next day. Plus Id just accepted a soccer scholarship to Brevard College, a division II school that I couldnt wait to play for! We were psyched to make our final club team year awesome, and take our early lead as far as we could. I play pretty much every position, from offense to goal, and my team nickname was the Beast, because Im really aggressive, I dont let injuries stop me, and I hate losing.

Halfway through the car wash, my teammate Chelsea wanted to get her SUV washed, so she jumped in her car as I pointed her to an empty spot. But as she was pulling in, her foot slipped; she was wearing flip-flops, and she pressed too hard on the gas. Her car flew at me, pinning me against a wall! I collapsed as blood started gushing around me. Chelsea ran to me, saying, Im so sorryI love you, Im sorry! Its okay, I said. I was woozy and tried take deep breaths to stay calm. I love you too.

An ambulance took me to the hospital, where my boyfriend, Shane, was waiting to hug and kiss me and tell me everything would be okay. But I must have been in total shock, because I couldnt even cry.

FAST-FORWARD

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a hospital room surrounded by my parents, my two brothers, and Shaneit was six days later! The doctors had put me in a coma to spare me the tremendous pain and shock Id have felt during the surgeries I needed. I woke up feeling numb and out of it, but when I reached down to feel my leg, all I felt was a pillow. Wheres my leg? I asked. Thats when the doctor started talking in a calm voice, saying it had come down to losing my left leg, or losing my lifethe blood flow to my leg had been severedand my leg had to go. In that moment, my Beast attitude kicked right in: all I could think about was getting back on the field to play soccer. When can I run? I asked. The doctor said it would take months of physical therapy with a prosthetic leg before Id be at that point. I made the doctor show me what was left of my legsthe wounds were so deep that they looked like train tracks running over my skin. It was really hard to seeyou never think your own body will scare you. But I willed myself to look at it; Id never been afraid, and Id always faced things instead of hiding from them. And when my team visited, the first thing I did was show them too: I wanted it to be out in the open, something we didnt ignore or whisper about. Id never had fakeness with my friends, and I didnt want it now.