Help Brody buy a car!

Hi, my name is Brody. I’m 17 years old, from Indiana, and a junior in high school.

I’m a pretty normal teenager. I get good grades, stay involved in a lot of extracurriculars, and volunteer in my community when I can. I have great friends and a family that supports me. I also have a younger brother who’s super annoying but I love him a lot.

We’re being raised by our mom, who’s a strong, hardworking single parent and does everything she can to give us the best life possible. She works nonstop for us, mostly on her own, and while she’s amazing, she can’t do everything by herself.

About four years ago, my relationship with my dad changed a lot. Since then, it’s been really hard not having the kind of relationship or support from him that I see other kids have with their dads. I’ve asked him for help with things like theater auditions, buying a car, and getting ready for college. Most of the time he tells me he can’t help or that it’s not in his budget, and then he won’t talk about it anymore. I try not to ask for much, but sometimes I just hope he’ll step up and be there for me and my brother.

The last 4 years really affected my mental health and I struggled with my self-worth and suicidal thoughts. With therapy, my mom, and the support system I do have, I’m in a much better place now. I’ve also tried to support other kids who are dealing with similar situations because I know how hard it can be.

I started working as soon as I could. Since I was sixteen, I’ve worked as a haunt actor at Necropolis Underground during their seasonal events, and over the summer I worked two lifeguarding jobs to save for a car, gas, and insurance. I plan to work even more next summer to keep saving for college.

I’ve fought really hard to stay alive, and I’m genuinely grateful for my life and the opportunities I have. I just could really use some help right now.

I’m trying to buy a car so I don’t have to keep sharing one with my mom and so I can keep moving forward with my future. I know this isn’t the most traditional way to ask, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to try.

Thank you so much for reading my story and for considering helping.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!