Crown Up: My Story, My Way

By Levia Hartman

Amid a civil war, a mother and daughter become refugees in Liberia, Africa. At a young age, Levia fled from her country with her mom. They came to America in hopes she would get an education and a better life. Although moving to a new foreign country would be a scary change for any child, Levia understood the political issues and poverty they’d left behind to achieve a successful and happier life. The “American Dream” that Levia thought she would have rapidly progressed into a full nightmare.
Alice gradually became mentally unstable, and Levia was placed in foster care, losing her only connection to her culture and herself. Through life-changing events, she must weather the strongest storms and navigate on faith, all in the hopes to see a rainbow at the end of it all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638608516

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1: The New Kid in Town

2: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

3: Forever Young

4: On the Move Again

5: The Devil in Disguise

6: The American Dream

7: Where It All Began

8: And I'm Telling You…

9: Just a Quick Visit

10: My New Home

11: Third Time's a Charm?

12: Health Scare

13: It Is What It Is

14: Long Time No See

15: This Can't Be

16: This Is It

17: Behind Closed Doors

18: My Experience in Foster Care

19: I Saw a Boy

20: Not Your Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

21: He's Working It

22: It's My Time Now

23: Brown Skin Girl

About the Author

cover.jpg

Crown Up

My Story, My Way

Levia Hartman

Copyright © 2022 Levia Hartman

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2022

ISBN 978-1-63860-850-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63860-851-6 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

I would like to dedicate Crown Up to a special girl like me. The Lord granted me a vision. I saw her face and the pain in her eyes. The energy I felt was undeniably great. I could hear her say, I'll never make it. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. She aimed to live up to their expectations, but she struggled every time. She's filled with disappointments, failures, and hurts. She was too afraid to dream out loud. This is a new beginning, and I'm telling her the worst is over. I've been on this road she is taking now. With the power of prayer and faith you can overwhelm and walk in victory.

Husband, I adore you. I love you. Thank you for showing me what it means to love and to be loved. You're my favorite person and my best friend.

I also want to honor and thank my former foster mom, Ms. Erica. Thank you for your unconditional love. You were a mentor and a friend. You never try to play the role of a mother and control my life. You changed my life without even trying. I'm so grateful to you and love you.

I'd like to extend my appreciation to the Fostering Hope Foundation, a nonprofit based in Colorado Springs, my hometown. This amazing organization, which strives to provide family-like support to youth who were formerly in foster care, supported me emotionally and financially and helped me to thrive in life. They supported me when I graduated high school up and the moment I got married. They broke the barriers and helped me realize I'm not just another number in the system. I am a person who deserves love.

Introduction

I'm a firm believer in miracles. It's a miracle that I am here today. My life is far from perfect and not worth boasting about. It's filled with rare adventures, much like Tarzan. I have learned to adapt to new cultures and survive. This life has taught me the importance of being authentic and honest.

1

The New Kid in Town

Call me the new girl in town. I embarked on a new journey in Colorado, Spring of 2005. I'm making the best of the time before school starts. People kept talking and inquiring about me, and I was so weary of always being the new student. When I entered the classroom, some students observed me with intense focus. I could see the curiosities in their eyes, but I ignored them. And smiled politely as I walked towards the back room. I noticed an empty seat and asked the teacher if someone had taken it. The teacher smile and told me to take the seat. During lunch, I sat by myself, biding my time and hoping that a new friend would come to join me. I felt like an outcast, completely invisible, with no friends. No matter how much I tried to stay strong and remain composed; each day seemed to drag on forever, and I was always so lonely. Nobody knew what she was going through. Despite my best efforts to appear happy and to fit in, nothing seemed to work. Despair and sorrow flooded my heart, and I felt like I had no escape from these potent emotions.

2

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

I entered this world as a beloved daughter of my Heavenly Father. Father made me a soldier to wage war against the spiritual realm. He taught me to be a woman of valor. He taught me to face the world confidently, to hold my head up with dignity, and to be a powerful queen. But it's easier to say than to put into action. I have encountered many doubts and hurts. The dark holds no secrets from me. The ones I love and rely on tell me to hide away. They filled my head with fears and doubts. Their lies felt like a sharp arrow piercing my heart. They expressed doubt I would ever amount to anything. They declared I would always be a follower and keep to the shadows. Becoming the person, I aspire to be requires intelligence and knowledge.

I looked into the mirror, much like a scene in a fairy tale, and asked it repeatedly, Mirror, mirror on the wall, am I pretty enough? Do I measure up to society's beauty standard? It amazed me when I looked in the mirror. It amazed me at the image no one else could see. The resemblance was surreal. All of my unique features, including my large brown eyes, my thick, curly hair, my slender, curvaceous waist, my full lips, and my rich dark chocolate-brown skin, combine to create my overall appearance. I was very proud and pleased with what I saw, and it gave me a great sense of satisfaction. When I was a child, looking in that mirror was like looking into the eyes of my mother, her unconditional love and protection clear.

I often look in the mirror and attempt to differentiate the actuality from the reality. This individual is a total stranger to me. I couldn't help but recognize the famous actor when I glanced at the television. She is of a tall height and has a slim physique. I can't help but notice her glowing skin. She was wearing all the name-brand items that surely carried a hefty price tag. Then she completed her gorgeous look with a perfect makeup application. With poise and confidence, she made her way down the red carpet, graciously greeting the onlookers with a wave and flashing a perfect smile for the cameras. This young lady has achieved stardom in Hollywood and is fortunate to be such a lucky star.

I mean, it seems she got it all going on! I think, It would be great if I can be just like her. Yeah, I know I'm not the prettiest girl in the world; I like to think of myself as an average-looking girl, so do you have to remind me? I told myself I'm a big girl and can handle it, but I'm not