BY BRIDGETT NESBIT

ABRIDGENNEWS2.COM

Sheena Byers, 29, wants girls to avoid the pitfalls of low self-esteem.

The ones that lead to suicide, early teenage pregnancy, abuse, self-loathing, addiction, eating disorders and crime.

It wasn’t the world she wanted her daughter, TyAnna, 9, to grow up in and Byers was determined to do something about.

“My daughter is my greatest inspiration, “she said.” “Every day I ask myself as woman how can I make her life a little easier and as women we know what each other go through with our health, working, and raising a family.”

Byers daughter, TyAnna, 9, is her greatest inspiration

CHANNELING CHANGE:

Her idea came from self-reflection, a desire to not see another young girl, in her shoes as a teen.

Byers, a Charlotte native, moved to the area, at 14.

She said the entire experience as a freshman at a new school, West Iredell High, was scary.

“I did things to try to fit in, fighting, skipping class, smoking, drinking, I did it all,” Byers said.

PRESSURE CREATES PEARLS: USING PAST PAINS TO PROPEL

PRESSURE MOUNTS: “…. I TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE”

She insists her upbringing was not why she acted out, Byers parents were still commuting to work in Charlotte.

“They were just trying to provide but I was left to figure out life on my own,” Byers said. “I needed to hear about the birds and the bees and I really needed someone to vent to or ask for guidance”

PEER PRESSURE: FINDING PATHS PASSED THE PAIN

And since she couldn’t make sense of her life, Byers made a terrible decision.

“One day I felt like I had enough of life, I went into my mother’s bathroom and tried to commit suicide,” she said while holding back tears.

“I had taken so many of her pills that when she found me I was unresponsive.”

Byers said she was rushed to the hospital.

“The only thing that saved me was I didn’t want to die, knowing that my mom would blame herself for it all.”

While recovering she realized she had great parents.

“I always had what I needed and more, I never missed a meal, all my parents did was try and make a good living for our family.”

GOOD GIRLS ROCK: SEEING A NEED ADDRESSING A PROBLEM

Byers would successfully finish school, marry and have a daughter of her own.

That’s when she realized the problems young girl face are much worse.

“Young girls are falling prey to the streets at an alarming rate,” Byers said.

“With all the hype about “turning up”, young girls are forgetting about their futures and becoming too grown.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent data, (2015) showed the suicide rate has increased by 28 percent since 2000 with the rate for female’s teenagers at its highest since 1975.

It wasn’t the world she wanted her daughter, TyAnna, 9, to grow up in and Byers was determined to do something about.

The Good Girls Rock members visited Fox 46 in Charlotte to see the inner workings of a fast paced news room.

In 2012 Byers created a mentoring program, Good Girls Rock, Inc.

“Because TyAnna reminds me how precious and valuable our little girls are and if we just take some time out to see, we will see every young girl is special.”

The program includes 30 girls, ages 5 to 19 and meets at their headquarters on 204 Cooper St., in Suite 116 to discuss issues and concerns as well as plan for trips, Byers said.

Dutchess, former VH1 Black Ink star and current business owner in Charlotte takes time out with Good Girls Rock members.

“We like to give our girls knowledge but with some fun.”

LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

Byers believes positive re-enforcement early on is vital to building a generation of girls that don’t look to the media and others to gauge they’re worth.

“See we go through things in life and at times we don’t know why but God has a reason for it all,” Byers said.

Rickia Grady, has worked with the program since its inception.

She says seeing the girls open to new opportunities is priceless.

“It’s very important to have positive influences because negatives get you nowhere,” Grady said.

“Positivity gives you a chance to look at the brighter side of life.”

To give a faith balance both Garden of Eden Outreach Ministries of Statesville and Byers home church, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Charlotte serve as spiritual support to the group.

And Grady says they are gearing up for an exciting summer. She thinks Byers child-like enthusiasm and love for the girls is awe inspiring.

“She’s so positive and the girls love her,” Grady said.

“Sheena is a big sister to us all and it’s an honor to work along-side her.”

Byers, a supervisor for a security firm, says it’s all in a day’s work.

“This is my calling, my passion, my destiny and everything I’ve went through in life was for me to be an advocate for young girls,” she said. “To help them live past their mistakes, some people call it their dream job, I call mine: my living on purpose.”

And they’re opening registration for their summer program.