Today we’d like to introduce you to Kambria Thompson.
Hi Kambria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story started before I was ever born. I’ve always felt like the child on the outside when it came to my dad’s side of the family because my father was killed five days before I was born, so I went into this world with just a mother to guide me through life. I was raised with two other siblings and a single mother. I would consider myself a GA-Floridian because I was born in Georgia but raised in Florida. My mom moved us around a lot because of job promotions in her field. For this reason, I have been to two-three different elementary, middle, and high schools all over Florida. However, things took a turn as I got older and learned that my father was actually murdered by someone I knew closely right before he came to visit me again at the hospital, so things definitely became difficult for me in the worse way when I learned about what really happened to my father. I started to blame myself and become depressed because I felt like my life was taken from me, and It hurt to know I wouldn’t experience having a dad. So, as a teen, I began to be very rebellious and operate in a way that negatively impacted my life. I would settle for the negative choices instead of the positive ones.
All because I was dealing with deep-rooted trauma. I remember being 14 in the 9th grade and going through years of bullying and teasing by my peers. I was failing classes and doing things in school that were not okay, like taking things from my bullies, who would tease me, fighting and even disrespecting my teachers. I remember turning to violence and trying to defend myself against everyone who bullied me because I was tired. I also remember trying to take my own life because the walls began to cave in on me mentally. However, what I thought was the worst experience of my life turned into the best thing that ever happened to me because when I awoke from being sedated after my attempt, I was never the same again. However, I was sent to an alternative school for two years for 9th and 10th grade because of my actions before the suicidal incident occurred. Thankfully alternative schools allowed students to work at their own pace, so I worked tirelessly to catch up and get back on track to graduate in 2013. I began to pray more and really turn my life around. I still went through some bullying there, but my mindset and faith were more substantial, and I had to realize who I was and the goal that I set for myself. I honestly felt God gave me a second chance at life because not many people survive suicide attempts, but I did.
On my mother’s side of the family, I come from a long line of Baptist ministers through music, leadership and prayer warriors. Also, I feel like their prayers is the reason I am here today. I knew that God had something more significant for me. I was able to finish the alternative program and go into 11th grade at a new school in Moore haven, Florida, It was a great experience and by far the best place I’ve ever lived. I could fully participate in sports, be a part of the homecoming court my senior year, and also I earned college scholarships. However, College was where my true potential thrived and came to life because in 2016, I joined an organization called Images modeling troupe and learned how to really love who I am and unlock the beauty that I’ve always tried to hide from myself. I also realized I have a gift of helping people overcome because I DID. Therefore I got my undergrad degree in sociology to study people and learn about their cultures and experiences. I took a year off after undergrad to work in the mental health field, and my son was born at that time as well.
While pregnant, I went back to school for my master’s and worked hard to prove to myself that I could get a degree and be a single mom, no matter what others felt about me having a baby before marriage, I knew I could do it, and I did. Now, I have my masters in human and social services with a focus on family studies and interventions, and that Is how I discovered that I wanted to become a mental health clinician! Fast forward to the present, I am almost done with my specialist degree in education with a focus of community care and counseling: Marriage and Family, I’m currently working as a mental health facilitator at an elementary school, I am writing a self-help book called beautiful scars of purpose, and I am also the director of young ladies of distinction mentoring group! Saying that to say, it doesn’t matter where you started in life. It is about where you decide to end. I used to be ashamed of my past, but as I’ve gotten older, I have learned to live in my truth because it may help someone else with a breakthrough!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been an easy road for me, especially with my love life but I know now that it is due to trauma that I experienced early on in my life which made me vulnerable to deception and the wrong people. However, I will insert one of my written pieces titled “Faceless Nameless Love” so that you can get a glimpse of my road. You also have full permission to use this as you please in the article.
“I used to be the girl that allowed my worth to be tainted. I used to get comfortable with any form of affection because I didn’t feel worthy of real love, I would settle for a piece of a feeling from it. I was lost in my thoughts thinking wow this could be the one for the 3rd time. Funny thing is I was stuck with the same reality Every time, the same nameless faceless man. A man that didn’t see my heart, he saw my appearance and felt as though it was okay to lie to me, cheat on me, and use me for his own personal satisfaction.
I would find myself overlooking the obvious, turning the other cheek to deception. Wow, how I could I be so dumb and lonely to want any piece of a man who didn’t love me. Was I awake through this? Was I asleep through this? Years went by and I still felt numb, maybe I was numb all along. Then one day two lines showed up on a stick and I said no longer, no longer will I feel empty inside because I won’t be. No longer will I allow this man to rip me to shreds and leave me empty. No longer will I allow him to use me for his personal gain. No longer will I be dead inside for a man’s love.
I traveled the road of pregnancy alone, feeling depressed and sad to the unknown. However I turned that longing for love into motherhood, I immediately wanted to shield and protect my womb from evil and lust. I protected myself because I knew I was birthing an angel. I knew I would never feel or be the same for that numb love again.
Motherhood gave me purpose that no one else could give me. But again, I found myself in another nameless love after childbirth, this man’s deception was unwittingly shocking. Again I allowed a nameless man to show me what love is not but it felt good to be seen after being in the shadows for so long. He was as mischievous as a clown in a suit. I didn’t see it coming but I knew all along because This life has shown me 3 nameless, faceless loves that will never consume me again.
But… was it just them. I had to turn the mirror around, and I finally saw myself. Wow, it was me. Since youthful ages, I was also the nameless love, I was the face. I didn’t even love myself at first. My three loves were trying to see a broken me. Was that what attracted them in the first place? Maybe it started as a six-year-old child where I remembered an older teen at the time took advantage of me in my sleep, I was almost robbed of my womanhood. . I was awoken with the shock of my underwear being down to my thighs laying on my stomach, surely enough I didn’t sleep that wild, I thought. To turn around and see a man ironing clothes behind me… how could that be? I never said anything to my mom until I got older… Why, though, Did that scare me? Or did I grow up thinking of embarrassment of my own foolish mistake! Would it have made a difference in who I am if I would’ve spoken up to my mom about this man or did I grow up allowing more men to prey on me for pity or was it because I proved something to myself by having degrees and turning my life into a blossoming career to never need a man or allow a man to see weakness in me for anything! Who knows… love still felt nameless and faceless.
Maybe they didn’t know that I didn’t feel beautiful inside, that I struggled with suicidal thoughts/attempts and depression as a teen. Maybe they didn’t know that I used to sit in a corner in my room crying asking myself why am I not like the other girls in my class, why can’t I be beautiful? Why do they pick on me? Why can’t I feel like I’m worthy? They didn’t know….
But What I used to be isn’t who I am now though. I love me, I cherish me & I am a healed me. Is it time to love? idk but I do know that this time it will be RIGHT & it won’t be broken, nameless or faceless. ”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am both professional and creative because I enjoy writing about my story because I am mentally in a place where I can finally do so. I also love helping people whether that’s through healing, love, friendship, trauma, etc. I have learned that I am a light wherever I go, you can place me anywhere and I will thrive because I’ve learned how to overcome! I draw people in because I’m always a positive light with how I approach anything, my spirit is genuine and I truly can make a friend out of anyone. My current job consists of maintaining the physical and mental well-being of students and staff. It is a new position that was newly created in henry county after covid, and it was put in place to help everyone transition back into the school system and learn to practice and implement self-care and wellness in daily routines. I am most proud of the mother that I am and the woman that I have become. The weapons that formed against me did not prosper, therefore I will always carry myself to a higher standard!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see myself doing a lot of public speaking events, I would like to speak to more high school girls/boys about my story because with the times that we are in now, it is needed more than ever. I also see myself doing more runway shows because modeling is something that I love and it makes me happy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/henry.k12.ga.us/mhwf/events
- Instagram: @_alexisbriel
- Facebook: Kambria Thompson
Image Credits
The professional pictures of myself with white and gold dress were taken by: Ern IG: ttsenre
