Students Rising Above: Drive For Education Overpowers Abuse

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - School has always been the safest place in Moneace Smith's life. She grew up in the notorious Sunnydale projects. But the danger was at home with her mom. Now she's overcome that adversity to create a bright future for herself through education.  

At the college center at June Jordan High, Moneace recently showed off another letter of acceptance.

"I got accepted to Sonoma State," said Moneace. "[June Jordan High School] is my second home, and I will never forget this, ever."

Moneace is still processing what happened with her mother's drug habits, and the abuse that she suffered.

"She would punch us, pull our hair, threaten to cut our hair, hit us," said Moneace.

She also recalls the day she thought her mom had overdosed.

 "She was lying there," said Moneace, who could see what the drugs did to her mother. "I thought she was dead."

Now, Moneace is a ward of court. She and her sister live with their cousin. Three of her sisters ran away. But Moneace stayed, caring for younger siblings,  and sometimes stepping between them and her mom.

"It felt it was my job, my responsibility to step in and protect my little sisters," said Moneace. "As a big sister, even if it was my mom, I had to."

But finally came the day came where she decided she couldn't do it anymore.

"She was a very courageous young woman," said counselor Erin Hughs.

Hughs knew how hard it was for Moneace to leave. But at the meeting with the social workers, child protective services, and her family about her placement, she spoke her mind.

"There was pressure from a number of people in the room, for her to be silent. For her not to be honest," said Erin Hughs. "She was the one person in the room who was willing to stand firm and say, 'what's happening at home isn't ok.'"

Moneace moved three times in her junior year. Usually, foster children lose about five months of school, every time they move. Half of those students drop out of high school, but not Moneace.

"There were so many days when I just sat here and cried, and talked to the teachers and just got so much love," said Moneace.

Student Rising Above Moneace Smith has 3.5 GPA and said she is going to college to "start her life."  

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