Surrounded By Assholes-Tracy

Quick Overview

Tracy, a woman featured in the "Soft White Underbelly" series, recounts a difficult life marked by childhood trauma, including abuse from her mother's second husband, early exposure to drugs, and the eventual suicide attempt of her mother, which led to Tracy being institutionalized in a mental hospital from ages 15 to 18; despite these hardships, she achieved stability, earned a degree in Fine Arts from Magma Cloud in 2012, and later reconnected with her estranged family, finding forgiveness and realizing her greatest lesson is never to give up, though she still fears losing her loved ones.

Key Points: Tracy was institutionalized in a mental hospital for seven months between ages 15 and 16 after her mother attempted suicide by gassing herself in a car. Her mother's second husband, who was a drug dealer, was abusive to Tracy and her siblings, leading to the family's eventual divorce. Tracy reconnected with her brothers via Facebook after 38 years of estrangement and later found her father's side of the family. She received a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Magma Cloud in 2012, despite being told artists do not make money. Her greatest regret is failing her children by not being a good role model, which she attributes to her own past trauma and struggles with addiction. She states her son, Chris, is doing great, has a fantastic career as a prop builder, and that her other son, John, who was involved in an international incident in 1988, has been sober for 20 years. Tracy's core life lesson is never to give up, as there is always hope, especially for loved ones.

Context: This video is an interview segment featuring Tracy, a subject in the 'Soft White Underbelly' series by Mark Laita, where she candidly discusses her traumatic past, including childhood abuse, family instability due to her parents' drug use and divorce, and her subsequent journey through self-destructive behavior and recovery, culminating in finding personal fulfillment and reconnecting with family.