Higher Education
Education is very important to me in order to move ahead in life. Not just get by, but to really succeed. My senior year I had to apply for colleges and make sure I was going to graduate. When it came down to clearance, I went to all my classes to make sure i was passing with at least a...
Health care - As Important to Me As Air
I attribute my life and success to an important provision granting Medicaid to former foster youth (FFY) until they reach age 26. Maslow proposed that if basic physiological needs like air, water, sleep, and shelter aren’t met, it can be hard to think about anything else. In my case you can add one more thing to the list of basic...
From Homeless To Advocate
What is the epidemic of homelessness? Why does it seem it is affecting so many people? For me, it is as simple and as complicated as spending every last dollar only to bounce from couch to couch. Then, spending all my time and resources worrying about whether or not I would have somewhere to rest my head in the following...
Permanence
In my childhood and early adolescence I had never had a supportive person that gave me hope or encouragement. Throughout my life I had heard horror stories of foster care. It was something I feared more than the situation I was in with my own family. The stigma of foster care scared me away from trying to reach safety. However...
My Experience at the Daniel Memorial Conference
This year, 2018, I was chosen to attend and represent FosterClub at Daniel Memorial’s 31st Annual National Independent Living Conference in San Antonio, Texas. During my All-Star internship, I had come to recognize Seaside, Oregon as home. It was upsetting to leave, but my choice to make an outstanding change to the lives of foster youth and alumni finally felt...
Bring Health Care for Former Foster Youth out of Hiding
Just ask Google. Youth share everything everywhere. I chat, post, blog, and message. When we want to know something, we google, Facebook, and search. Every bill I have, my work, my education, and everything I care about is in my back pocket on my cell and comes by email, an app, text notification, or through social media. One thing that...