Mercy Home Coworker Helps Young Woman Believe In Herself

May 28, 2026

When Xailani walks across the stage at her eighth-grade graduation, it will be more than just a ceremony. It will be a celebration of all she has accomplished.

When Xailani arrived at Mercy Home in middle school, she struggled to stay focused in class and often didn’t see the point in putting effort into her grades. But over the last two years, that has changed.

“Lupe,” Xailani said without hesitation when asked who among our team has made the biggest difference in her life.

“When I first came here and had my first education meeting with her, she said, ‘You remind me of me.’ She’s Afro-Latina and so am I, so we share a lot of common stuff.”

That connection formed instantly.

“She has helped me so much,” Xailani said. “She cares about me. She has made a huge impact and has helped me so much with school and my grades.”

Growing up, Carey struggled in school, particularly in math. She was often too shy to ask for help and feared being seen as “dumb.” Later, she dropped out of college before earning her degree due to mental health challenges.

Now, while working full time at Mercy Home, she is one year away from completing her master’s degree in social work through the University of Phoenix Online.

Those experiences shaped the way she mentors young people.

“I want to help our young people learn that it’s okay to ask for help,” Carey said.

That lesson became especially important for Xailani.

“We’ve really worked on her confidence and self-advocacy in school,” Carey said. “She didn’t believe in herself when it came to school, especially math.”

But slowly, that confidence began to grow.

At a recent report card pickup, Xailani’s math teacher asked to speak with Carey directly.

“He told her that he was so, so proud of her,” Carey recalled. “I almost cried because you could see her face. He said that she had grown so much and started to not be afraid to ask questions.”

This confirmed what Carey already believed.

“She just needed someone to trust to believe in her,” she said. “I’m honored that she sees me as that person.”

That growth has now only happened academically.

Carey has also watched Xailani become more comfortable embracing her identity, from learning to love her natural hair to surrounding herself with friends who encourage her goals instead of pulling her away from them.

“Seeing her become more comfortable in who Xailani is, is one of the most beautiful things,” she said. “Especially for young girls, it’s really hard to become comfortable in your own skin.”

Xailani now dreams big about her future. She hopes to pursue a career in cosmetology or nursing when she gets older.

“I want to help people and make them feel better,” she said.

And while graduation marks the end of middle school, both she and Carey know it’s only the beginning of her story.

“I’m most proud of her growth,” Carey said. “Seeing her become more of herself and more in tune with what she needs.”

For Xailani, that growth started with someone believing in her. And now, she believes in herself too.