Adora Hooper

Adora Hooper's journey is one of resilience and triumph. Raised in the serene Sierra Nevada mountains by conservative Seventh Day Adventists, she faced a turbulent high school experience after leaving her mountain home and moving to the Oregon Coast due to her father's health issues. However, Adora persevered and graduated with honors, even earning college credits along the way.

In 2014, Adora relocated to Minnesota to be closer to her grandparents and pursued a Bachelor's Degree in K-8 education with a focus on Special Education. During her senior year of high school, she had already showcased her literary talents by writing and editing her first book, "Time In Space," which she published. Unfortunately, her life took an unexpected turn just months later when she experienced a severe psychotic breakdown and was diagnosed with schizophrenia by a psychiatrist. Devastatingly, she was advised to abandon her dreams of teaching and starting a family.

Facing immense challenges, Adora dropped out of college and nearly lost her relationship with her significant other in the aftermath of the traumatic experience. She grappled with her disability, learning to accept the limitations it imposed. However, with the support of professionals, her family, and the grace of God, she found the strength to overcome the voice that urged her to relinquish her hopes and dreams.

In 2016, Adora and her significant other enjoyed a spiritual ceremony in lieu of a traditional wedding soon after being baptized. The following year, they purchased their first house, and to their astonishment, they welcomed their first child despite being told that a viable pregnancy was highly unlikely. This unexpected blessing propelled them forward, and Adora's experiences in education proved invaluable as they navigated their child's disability and made the decision to homeschool.

After Adora became pregnant with their second child, her partner and her started having more conflicts as the life they shared wasn't fulfilling both of their needs and desires. After several explosive incidents were handled privately (as their faith advised) over almost a year, outside help was eventually needed and Adora's partner moved out in an effort to find out what he wanted out of life. While she waited for him to decide what he wanted his future to look like, Adora went back to college for a degree in Business and received a few honors during her studies. When her partner decided that he wanted them to spend more time focused on their relationship and felt that she wasn't putting enough effort in, she dropped back out of college to focus on healing, learning to communicate better, and to put her best foot forward in making the dream she had prayed for work out.

Over the next couple of years, they fought to find a mutual agreement to benefit not only themselves and each other, but also their children through the help of counselors, friends, and family. In the end, unfortunately, traumatizing choices were made that forced them to permanently split after 7 years of being committed to each other. Adora now is a strong advocator for making difficult calls and reports immediately - even if she still struggles with the assertiveness needed to do so herself. Thankfully, both parties are doing much better with the physical distance between them and remain committed to becoming better parents for their children and both are involved in their children's lives to the best of their individual ability. Adora says, "I have learned that love doesn't accept all things and that both parties have to love every piece of themselves first - including their darker sides - before there can be any hope of showing real love to another person."

As an officially single mother, Adora has thrown herself into bettering herself as a person and regaining her confidence. In the last several months, she has educated herself about various topics - including studying for her Metaphysical Practitioner Certification and studying for her Holistic Health Practitioner certification - as well as practiced being comfortable with her authentic self. She still admits to having the "urge to apologize for taking up space," but that she "has gotten much better at asking for what is needed." She is cultivating new friendships with other individuals who don't shy away from difficult conversations, is becoming more comfortable with holding her boundaries despite other's emotional reactions, and remains committed to learning and growing as an individual - physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Today, Adora remains dedicated to writing books and articles that raise awareness about mental illness and the significance of service animals. Her past experiences with negative, abusive relationship *see note* dynamics also are shared with the hope that other survivors know that there is hope of happiness out there despite the trauma's we face - with God's help of course! Her educational background proves instrumental in advocating for her children's needs, and she cherishes every opportunity to empower others with her story. With determination and a resilient spirit, Adora Hooper inspires others to defy the odds and embrace the beauty that can emerge from life's most challenging circumstances.

Note: the word "relationship" here is to mean any type of interpersonal connection whether romantic, friendship, professional, or even acquaintances.