E377 - Denise Bard - A teachers impact isn't found within the subject they teach

EPISODE 377 - Denise Bard - A teachers impact isn't found within the subject they teach

As a child, Denise spent years facing many forms of abuse. In addition to the physical and verbal abuse, she also endured sexual abuse while in the care of a parent, where she became a form of payment for their drug addiction. After attempting to take her own life in 1989, when Denise was 14 years old, she was brought to a nonprofit shelter for runaway and abused kids. It was there that she learned how to shift her focus and found support from her counselors, teachers, and a coach which helped change the trajectory of her life and the horror she was born into. Because of the small moments of hope that these women gave her, she was able to create her own success story.

Today, Denise shares her experience of facing abuse and how she found power and resilience in the smallest moments of hope that teachers gave her. “30-second moments. It only takes 30 seconds to feel something so deep that it transcends the time it takes for someone to say something to you that you need to hear.” Denise shares a quote her daughter said to her, “Mom, I am so happy they (teachers/counselors/shelter) raised you because I love the way you raised me.”

She is the author of 30-Second Moments: And The Women Who Raised ME.  Her story was also featured in the book “Listen - Stories We Carry With Us From House to House". A collection of stories, drawings and poems from youth currently in the foster care system or those who had experience in the system  and adult survivors from around the world. Denise is also a special needs advocate and youth advocate. She sits on The Board of Directors for Anchor House Inc. the Trenton, NJ nonprofit shelter that helped her go from being just “something” to becoming “someone”.

https://denisebard.com/