Serenity Mesa sets up client for success after years of struggle

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Serenity Mesa sets up client for success

After overcoming numerous challenges during his high school years, 20-year-old Dante Valenzuela uses the resources at Serenity Mesa to get his life on track.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — 20-year-old Dante Valenzuela knew he had to take care of himself from an early age.

“Things weren’t really great there,” he said of his home life. “So, when I was 16, I started looking into getting emancipated.”

A year later, he was legally emancipated.

During that legal challenge he was also facing the challenge of high school, transferring schools three times before getting his diploma.

While his classmates were just worrying about math tests, Valenzuela was also worrying about a place to sleep.

He said he could only couch surf for so long.

“It was very sad, because I didn’t know what to do,” Valenzuela said. “I was trying everything I can to not end up homeless.”

Then his principal connected him with a shelter and eventually Serenity Mesa center for local youth. Staff there helped him graduate and kept him going when a future felt impossible.

“(It) was little overwhelming, just because I just … it was just so much good things happening, and I didn’t (know how to react),” Valenzuela said. “I’m just not used to those kind of things happening or having that kind of support.”

They even helped get him a place to call his own. He’s part of the permanent housing voucher program, funded by the city.

Valenzuela has now been living in his own apartment for three years, and that’s allowed him to set his sights on his next goal.

“I always wanted to go to college,” he said.

He’s in his second year at UNM, studying chemical engineering. Valenzuela said he always knew he could have a life like this, and Serenity Mesa helped make it happen.

“Just know that there’s help out there and that there’s people willing to help you, and that just don’t give up on yourself,” he said.