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Surprising Tip for Test Success – Have a Snack

FC2S Staff | July 22nd, 2013

Have you ever lost your focus or attention in the middle of a test? Has the information you spent hours studying flown out of your head never to return? Stefanie Weisman, author of The Secrets of Top Students: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Acing High School and College, has a surprising tip for maintaining your concentration and retaining information during exams – eat a snack during the test.

“Most nutritionists are concerned with the foods you eat outside the classroom, but they ignore an important strategy for getting better grades: consuming high energy snacks during the exam,” said Weisman, who was an award-winning student in high school and college. “I would never have been a top student without this.”

Of course, if a teacher forbids food and drink in the testing room, don’t put yourself in jeopardy by bringing anything in. But, if you can comfortably bring food into the testing room, Weisman recommends the following to help you keep up your energy and do better on tests.

1. Apples aren’t only for teachers and teacher’s pets. With their high fiber content, apples pack a lot of energy inside their peels. Weisman recommends cutting up an apple before the test and putting them in a plastic bag.
2. Fruit leather, more commonly known as roll-ups or fruit strips, pack whole servings of fruit into an easily carried small package. Watch out for the roll-ups that are high in sugar. You don’t want the typical sugar roller coaster ride of a burst of energy, followed by a crash.
3. What’s more fun food play than peeling string cheese? Weisman recommends this good source of protein as easy to eat and transportable. “You can eat it in under a minute if you bite it instead of pulling it off in strings,” said Weisman.
4. Fruit and nut bars also are easy to transport and good sources of protein. Like fruit roll ups, watch for the bars with a lot of sugar.

Do you snack during tests and exams? What foods help keep you going during tests?

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July – the Unofficial ETV Month

FC2S Staff | July 18th, 2013

Come around the Foster Care to Success office in July, and you’ll find our phones lit up like Manhattan skyline as students apply for the Educational Training Voucher (ETV) Program, which provides funding and support to foster youth for post-secondary education. The application process is easy, but understandably, nerve-wracking for students trying to make sure their school and associated costs are paid for. There’s no need to worry, though.

This summer, Foster Care to Success launched a new website making the ETV application process easier for students in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Ohio. If you’re a student needing information on ETV or to apply, visit Fosteru.org.

ETV is an annual federal grant provided to states to fund youth who have aged out of the foster care system and who are enrolled in college, university and vocational training programs. Students may receive up to $5,000 a year based on their cost of attendance. They must enroll before their 21st birthday and may continue to receive support until age 23. Funds may be used for tuition, dorm fees, books, student loan repayments and qualified living expenses. ETV funds can be combined with other grants and scholarships to minimize or eliminate the need for student loans. Don’t forget – students wanting ETV funds must re-apply every year.

To qualify for ETV funding, you must meet the following requirements:

• Youth must be in foster care, adopted from foster care after age 16, or aged out of foster care.
• For most states, youth must be aged 18-20; however the age requirement varies by state.
• Youth must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Youth must be accepted into or enrolled in a Title IV, accredited college or vocational/technical training program.

To apply, fill out the online application AND send in the required paperwork.

1. The ETV Financial Aid Release Form. Students must complete and sign the top part of this form and bring it to their school’s financial aid office. The financial aid officer fills in cost of attendance and all of the student’s other loans, grants and scholarships and faxes it to ETV. This form shows ETV the student’s ESTIMATED NEED.
2. The ETV Cashier Statement. Students must complete and sign the top part of this form and bring it to their school’s cashier/bursar’s office. The bursar fills it in and faxes it to ETV. This form shows ETV if the student has any unpaid tuition and specifies when tuition is/was due.
3. The ETV Student Participation Agreement. This form explains the student’s responsibilities as a program participant. It must be must signed and faxed or mailed to ETV before funding is disbursed.

Once you’ve applied, you can check the status of your application online by clicking on your state on the home page of FosterU and from there, on “Update my information/Check my status.” After entering your user name and password (assigned when you first apply), you can see your current status, including what paperwork (forms and transcripts) has been received and what still needs to be submitted.

The process doesn’t stop when you get your check. To keep your current funding and remain in good standing for next year, you have to sign and follow the ETV Student Participation Agreement’s list of student’s responsibilities. The requirements are:

• Students must demonstrate that they are making progress toward their educational goals.
• Students must stay in touch with ETV by email or phone, at least twice a month.
• Students must read their email at least once a week.
• Students must send in new ETV forms each semester/quarter in order to receive ETV funds.
• Students must ask their schools to mail their official transcripts to ETV at the end of each semester/quarter funded by ETV.
• Students must update their applications every time their personal information changes.

Good luck with your application. If you’ve applied, you’ll be hearing from the ETV coordinators soon. We can’t wait to talk to you.

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A Foster Student Tells His Success Story

FC2S Staff | July 16th, 2013

Jonathan Valerio graduated from George Washington High School in New York this spring. Not only did he get his degree, he also was a commencement speaker, which is a big honor. In the fall, Jonathan will be attending the New Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY). Foster Care to Success is proud to help Jonathan fund his education dream.

You can here his story in his own words here: Jonathan Valerio commencement speech

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Students from the Foster Care System Speak Out

FC2S Staff | July 15th, 2013

In a panel at the American Bar Association Conference on Children and the Law last week,  three successful students who’ve been in the foster system discussed what it was like trying to balance school, work, and the demands of living in the child welfare system. In their panel discussion – “Voices from the Child Welfare System” – the students also discussed the meaning of attorneys in their lives as foster youth.

Ricardo Saldana Marquez, a 20 year old student at the University of Nevada – Reno, said that he was doing so well while he was in care that he felt like he was rushed out of the child welfare system before he was ready. He cautioned that students who are doing well don’t need less help and felt like he missed out on some important opportunities due to the rush. He did not even know he had an attorney who could have acted as an advocate for him in the court system. Marquez advises that students use their senior years in high school to enjoy being in school. During his senior year in high school, he stopped working at his job and focused on participating on school sports teams and activities. “That was the year I enjoyed being a youth,” he said.

“Ask the child,” said nursing student Erin Mosley. “Even though they’re young, they know what they want. It’s up to you as an adult to help mold them. They feel like they don’t have a voice, but they do have a voice. They just don’t know how to use it.” Mosley credits a supportive foster family for her achievements. Her case worker also was instrumental to her graduating from high school and entering secondary school to study nursing.

Twenty-one year old Kayla VanDyke has always been highly motivated, but learned about the importance of having an advocate when she learned that she needed court approval to study in Japan. Previously, she was unaware of the importance of lawyers and had lost visitation rights with her younger siblings. “The expectation of failure by the court system was something I really had to overcome,” said VanDyke. “I had no idea what a lawyer was supposed to be doing. Now that I know what the lawyer was supposed to be be doing, it feels tragic because of the opportunity lost.”

VanDyke also discussed the importance of education, “Education specifically for foster youth takes a team. If you don’t have a team fighting and advocationg for you, education can fall by the wayside.” She will be attending Hamline University in the fall.

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July 2013 Heroes

FC2S Staff | July 5th, 2013

The 2013 Aim Higher Fellows

We couldn’t choose just one hero for July, and if you knew the 2013 Aim Higher Fellows, you would know why. In early June, a group of 22 nervous college students gathered in Washington, D.C. as the inaugural Foster Care to Success Aim Higher Fellows. No one knew each other. Many hadn’t been to Washington before, some not even a big city before. After three weeks, they left Washington as a close group of smooth talking presentation whizzes and friends.

That is why they are our heroes for July 2013. Each fellow took their fears in stride and made a huge effort to get to know each other and to absorb the Aim Higher training. They took advantage of the city and explored, learned new things, saw the sights, ate foods they’d never tried before, and lived life to the fullest.

Aim Higher is a peer-to-peer mentoring program that seeks to improve college readiness for foster youth who are still in high school by tapping the experiences and unique perspectives of successful FC2S Scholars. The program is designed to help foster youth gain a better understanding of the differences between high school and college and to develop the academic and life skills they need to graduate.

This new program is built around 22 carefully selected FC2S upper-class college students known as Fellows. Every year, a new cohort of Fellows will spend three weeks in June in Washington, D.C., participating in workshops and training sessions to hone their communication and presentation skills and learn how to share the FC2S Academic Success Model with foster youth in their home states.

Over the course of the coming year, Fellows will present at conferences and meet with foster youth, social workers, educators and foster parents. They’ll discuss time management, goal planning, study techniques and other important life survival skills with the younger students. Fellows will share their experiences to help teens understand the role of a college student. They also will emphasize how much hard work is required to progress and how earning a diploma can change a life.

The 2013 Aim Higher Fellows have inspired the Foster Care to Success staff with their courage, intelligence, kindness, and zest for life. Watch out for these young professionals. They will inspire you as much as they did us, and they are going to take over the world.

Meet the Students

Alabama

David Petty is a rising senior at the University of North Alabama. He is studying social work.

Aurora Smith is a rising junior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she is studying early childhood and elementary education.

Arizona

Kameron Mark plans to receive her associate degree from Pima Community College in May 2014 and then transfer to Arizona State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Antonio (Tony) Ramos is a May 2013 graduate of Paradise Valley Community College where he received his associate degree with honors, with an emphasis in criminal justice. He is considering Arizona State University to further his studies.

Colorado

Margaret (Meg) Ewing is a May 2013 graduate of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs where she received her bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Cristhian (Cris) Miranda is a rising senior at Colorado Mesa University where he is on the pre-medical track and is studying musical education.

Maryland

Nia Garrett is a rising senior at McDaniel College with a major in psychology and minor in gerontology.

Evelyn Harris is a rising senior at Morgan State University, studying elementary education.

Keven Maclin is a rising senior at the University of Baltimore where he is studying corporate communications with a minor in business management.Missouri

Alexandria (Alex) Garcia is a rising senior at Southwest Baptist University where she is studying nursing.

Hailey Hankins is a rising junior at William Jewell College. She is majoring in elementary education with a minor in psychology.

Drew Hilgendorf is a rising junior at Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in sports management and minoring in business administration.

Ohio

Jamaal (Jay) Hamler is a May 2013 graduate of Central State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Alden Morris is a rising junior at Ohio State University, studying political science.

Nautica Hereford is a rising junior in the Honors Program at Wright State University, going for a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

New York

Brittany Harris is a rising senior at Mercy College, studying social work.

Christina McGee is a rising junior at Hunter College, studying anthropology with a minor in cultural studies.

Daybelis Ramirez is a rising senior at Marist College where she studies social work and psychology.

Aim Higher Fellow Tasha Maddox

North Carolina

Natasha Maddox is a rising junior at Western Carolina University, studying social work with a minor in psychology.

Kashawn McRavion is a rising senior in the Honors Program at North Carolina A&T State University, studying social work with a minor in philosophy.

Sandra Witherspoon is a rising junior studying special education at East Carolina University.

OREGON

Chelsea Miles graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in April 2013 with a degree in English/journalism education.

Read more success stories.

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Former Foster Care to Success Scholarship Recipient Publishing a Novel by Aisha Mandel

FC2S Staff | July 3rd, 2013

In 2002, Aisha Mandel received a scholarship from the Orphan Foundation of America to supplement her college education at the University of Minnesota.

Here is a post she would like to share with all of you; Aisha is currently raising funds via Kickstarter to publish her book,

A revolving conversation plastered all over the news and social media is the topic of privacy – domestic surveillance programs run by the NSA to monitor our phone calls, internet traffic, texts, emails, etc.

This topic is parallel to the state of Minnesota keeping record of my every move while I grew up in long-term foster care as a state ward.

Individual ‘people’ chronicling my mental state, behavior, IQ, physical health, therapy sessions, and so forth.  And while some of these provisions were necessary; think about it – what would it be like to read a record of your life from the age of 3 to 18?  Over 800 pages of intricate reports and personal (biased) observations.

This is what my book is about.  It is a conversational narrative about what I found within the pages of my case file; showing the world what it looks like from a non-emotional perspective.

I have created a Kickstarter project in order to raise funds to self-publish my novel!   I have until July 19^th to raise the money I need.  If you have a moment, please visit the link below.

www.Kickstarter.com and Search “Aisha Mandel”

Thank you for allowing me to share my story.  And I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Foster Care to Success for giving me the opportunity to make this post!

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June 2013 Hero – Tremale Berger

FC2S Staff | June 28th, 2013

“You can share a story and people can carry that story forever.” 

– Tremale Berger

Tremale Berger came in 2nd place at the District Contest (quarterfinals).

Former foster student Tremale Berger’s love of speaking took him somewhere he never expected – the largest speech contest in the world: The 2013 Toastmasters International Speech Contest.  Each year, nearly 30,000 people from around the world compete for the title of  World Champion of Public Speaking. Tremale finished in second place at the District Contest, the competition’s quarterfinals. A first place finish would have made him one of the 88 speakers from around the world to compete in the International Semifinal Contest in Cincinnati, OH later this year.

The Toastmasters International Speech Contest starts at its nearly 13,500 clubs, which span 116 countries around the world. Contestants are evaluated on speech content, organization, voice quality and gestures. After a year-long process of elimination through 5 rounds — club, area, division, district and semifinal competitions, 9 contestants earn an opportunity to speak to a live audience of nearly 3000 people and compete for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking at the organization’s annual convention.

Tremale discovered his talent for speaking through his love of music. He was intrigued by the way music told stories and how the stories and music made people feel. ”I always wanted to do what music did for me,” said Berger.

The inspiring speaker at his high school graduation in 2004 also grew his interest in speaking. Tremale asked his foster care coordinator to help him find an opportunity to try out his speaking skills. His first major speech was at the Disney Concert Hall in 2008 where his success help stoke his speaking passion. Six months later, he spoke in front of 300 people and, in his words, “bombed,” leading him to question whether he would continue speaking.

In 2012, Tremale wanted to give up on his speaking, but a friend arranged for him to speak at a Boy Scout’s conference, which renewed his passion for speaking. So much so, he joined Toastmasters in June 2012 and starting giving speeches regularly in Toastmasters clubs in his area.

His friends in Toastmasters suggested that he sign up for the organization’s annual speaking competition. So, in September 2012, Tremale started writing his competition speech and would speak to groups three times a week for practice, all while holding down a day job that required him to work over 70 hours a week at times. By February 2013 and after 40 revisions, Tremale finally felt he developed a speech that represented his range of ability and would give him a chance to win it all. 

With one dream, however, the course of Tremale’s speech contest journey changed. After having a dream the night before his Toastmasters club meeting, he decided to give an off the cuff speech about the dream he had at his club. The topic: his journey to get his society to hear him. The response received from his club members was unanimous – “that was the most powerful speech I have ever heard you give.”  Tremale was left with a dilemna, play it safe and proceed with the speech he spent nearly 6 months working on or give the speech inspired from a late night dream…the one that tugged at the core of his heart.

Tremale was deeply divided, but it was a question that his fellow toastmaster and speech mentor, Andrew Chiu, asked him that helped him arrive at a resolution. The question: “which speech would you give if this was the last speech you ever gave?” After only a few months before the big contest, Tremale decided to make the change and go with the speech from his dreams, the speech that came from his heart. “It’s not your typical platform speech,” said Berger. “I wanted to push the envelope. It became about having fun.” Going on a speaking tour to 16 Toastmasters clubs helped him polish his new speech.

Tremale says his decision to switch his speech was validated when his former social worker unexpectedly came to see him in the area contest in April of this year.  Seeing his social worker in the audience made Tremale break down and really connect with the audience.

Tremale made it through to the quarterfinals (District 52 Contest), where he came in second to a gentleman who was one of the 9 finalists at the 2009 World Championship of Public Speaking.  He is glad for the experience because he learned “it’s all about the connection with the audience.” View his speech here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3f8lo8IolQ.

Berger said, “Despite the unexpected outcome, my desire to perfect my speaking craft has never been higher. I will learn from this experience and compete again next year with the reachable goal of taking it all the way to the big stage in Malaysia for the 2014 World Championship of Public Speaking.”

Besides public speaking, Tremale co-founded an organization called Gentlemen’s Agenda — a movement organization dedicated to teaching young men how to be gentlemen and bringing back the idea of gentlemen to the norm. He also serves as the organization’s director of youth initiatives, where he developed a 10 week experience called “The Passion Academy.”  The Passion Academy is designed to provide young men with a conceptual road map to identify and explore issues they can be passionate about and subsequently pursue while consistently applying the core values which define being a gentleman. The ultimate goal is to showcase how being a gentleman directly correlates to success in every phase and aspect of life. The organization concluded the 10 week pilot for the program earlier in June, working with 26 kids at John Muir High School in Pasadena.

“It was a tremendous experience and I will be spending the summer creating at training manual so that we can offer the program to other high schools in the greater Los Angeles area,” said Berger. “In the end, I simply want to provide hope to the youth of our society, especially other foster/at-risk youth, that they can have a future of their choosing.”

Read more success stories.

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Semester at Sea Adventure by Molly Sobol

FC2S Staff | June 10th, 2013

Right now I am sailing on the MV Explorer on my way from Ghana to Morocco, I have spent this semester circumnavigating the globe on the Semester at Sea, Spring 2013 voyage, thanks to the generous support of Foster Care to Success. In the last four months I have had the opportunity to spend time in many ports such as Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Burma, India, Mauritius, South Africa and Ghana. I have had the chance to camp on the Great Wall of China, see the Taj Mahal, the Ganges River, and Ha long Bay, go on safari and do several homestays among many other things. While on the ship I take comparative global classes to give more purpose to all of these adventures, these classes include Education, Nutrition, Psychology and Drawing. I have also had the opportunity to visit and do service at 4 different orphanages, including an independent 5 day homestay/service trip at an orphanage in Ghana. I have met amazing people this semester including locals within countries, faculty, friends and Archbishop Desmond Tutu who sailed with us for the first 3 months of the voyage and has since been in contact with me via email.

While reflecting on the last four months there are a few specific moments that I feel have had huge impacts me as a person, most of which are too complicated to explain but there is one story that I will share with you, which is from about two weeks ago while I was in Cape Town. I spent my first 3 days in South Africa on safari on the Garden Route and then the two days before this incident doing a homestay in a township. It was my last day in Cape Town and I was on Long Street with a group of friends, Long Street is known for being an upscale touristy area, but also home to a lot of homeless people and a place for people from the townships to come and beg for money. All week I had been hearing my friends complain about “all the poor people who would rather beg than work for money” and at this time one of them was talking about that issue. A minute later a very very skinny lady approached us and said she was hungry- it would be impossible for any of them to deny that she was, she was wearing clothes that were falling apart, she was dirty and most likely under 90 pounds. We could also see her two children around the corner watching her ask us for money. My friends lied to her saying that they had no money, which was clearly not true as she could tell from the fact that we were all decked out with Nike, Northface and Abercrombie clothes. After telling her she had no money one of the girls turned to me and said loud enough that the lady could hear that she would never encourage a beggar by giving them anything.

I asked the lady to follow me and led her to the grocery store across the street, I gave the cashier some money equal to about $25 USD and told him to let the lady buy her family whatever food she wanted from the store and to give her the change, I told her to get whatever she needed, said god bless and have a nice day and then left not telling her how much I had given her because I didn’t want a thank you or to make her feel awkward. When I walked out of the store my friends commented that I wasn’t strong willed enough to tell her no. At lunch I decided to explain to them that I myself had spent time in foster care and wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for handouts and support from strangers, including scholarships that made it possible for me to do Semester at Sea. An hour later when another man asked us for money they all gave him some change. It blew my mind a little that these wealthy college students were so hesitant to help somebody because they didn’t feel like a person should be given money without earning it, when they themselves have never worked for anything and are supported entirely by their rich parents. This is what it’s all about- learning to break down previous judgments from experiences and the people around us, learning to be grateful for the lives we were born into and trying figuring out how we can improve the lives of the people around us who may or may not be less fortunate in that moment.

In one week I will disembark my new home for the last time in Spain and start on my journey home to San Francisco, which will include two days in Spain, two days in Ireland, 2 days in Scotland and 4 days in New York. I am honestly starting to get a little nervous about returning to the US as I have spent most of this semester in third world countries and haven’t seen a grocery store since New Years, I think after having culture shock 12 times in four months returning to the US might well be the hardest transition. I have had more incredible experiences and seen more of this planet in one semester than I could have hoped for my entire lifetime. Thank you to Foster Care to Success for making this semester possible, it has truly changed my life and I am so grateful for your continued support of my education.

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Foster Care Highlighted on New Television Show

FC2S Staff | June 3rd, 2013

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May 2013 Heroes

FC2S Staff | May 8th, 2013

May, as we all know, is Foster Care Month.  A time to celebrate ALL the foster care heroes.  We asked our students to tell us who they would call a hero, and we got hundreds of responses – far too many to post on a blog!  It was very hard, but we chose a representative handful.  Enjoy them – and be deeply moved by the love and appreciation shown by our students for these wonderful people.  The photographs were also sent in by our students of their loved ones, but they do NOT correspond with the quotes.

I wouldn’t have gone back to school if it wasn’t for Miho. She really gave me a boost. Money helps, but cheerleaders, mentors and well wishers, these are the reasons that keep me going. I have someone who believes in me and is patient. I hope to invite her to my graduation someday.  – Diann

Ms. Jackson is the director of the Lubbock Transition Center. I met her when I was about 15-16 years old when she taught the PAL (preparation for adult living) class in my area. I’ve kept in touch with her for the last 11-12 years. She’s a wonderful advocate for foster youth. She does whatever she can for us even it means offering her own home in time of need. She’s a mother figure for us and for some of us…she’s the only person that can be relied on. We all love her.  – Karla

My high school English teacher Ms. Mulvihill is special to me because she showed me that she really cares about her students. At first I did not think anything of her but as the year went on we began to grow close. I was being placed with different families in different parts of my state and I would have to go to different schools. My junior year at a new school, Ms. Mulvihill noticed that I was missing school a lot because of court dates and she told me that she would go to court with me and convince the judge to let me stay in the same school until I graduated. I ended up not moving again after that court hearing and I now look at her as my mom. She has done so much for me in the 4 years that I have known her for and I have the utmost respect for her. – Devon

My special person whom I’ve met from being in foster care would be Kelly, my foster mom for about six years all together. She is a blessing to me because I didn’t just get dropped off at her house and learn to deal with it, she actually got her foster care license because she had wanted to love me in her home. I’m very thankful I met her through foster care because she cares so much for me, and is very helpful-like a real mother. – Jess

Sheri has been my foster mom for about seven years and she has been my side through the hardest times in my life. She is my best friend, mentor, and mother. Every day I thank my lucky stars she’s a part of my life because I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without her guidance and love. – Amar

My hero is named Nancy. She was a counselor at my high school. After my parents died, I bounced from house to house and was homeless for a period. One day, Nancy found out about me, bought me lunch, and said, “enough of this, you’re coming to live with me.” I lived with her family up until graduation. She got me into some much-needed tutoring to fix my grades and helped me apply to college. I definitely would not have been able to finish high school without her guidance and support. – Carly

Many people have made a difference in my life, but none as much as my CASA, Amy. As a broken teenager, she took me up under her wing as a daughter, nurtured me, spoiled me, built confidence within me, and then did everything in her power to help me during my transition and my life in college. My heart now takes her as a loving mother, whom I treasure oh so much. – Jahzeel

Eva is my ex-case worker and I continue to stay in contact with her. She has strongly impacted my life in a positive way and I know I am who I am today because I know her. She is an amazing example of a strong unique independent women and I love her with all my heart! – Regina

My hero is my guardian, Pop.  He is special because when everyone gave up on me including myself, he didn’t.  School, especially math, is hard for me even with tutoring and extra help.  He believes in me and keeps me motivated to try and meet this challenge and all the things I deal with as a college student.  He is special. – Tony

My older sister Caroline is also my best friend. She is so special to me because she is the prime example of the type of person I am striving to become in life. She is optimistic, affable, strong, intelligent, and a great role model. When I was put into foster care as a teenager Caroline was the one person that never stopped believing in me. It’s because of Caroline that I never gave up on my goals and I love her so much for that. – Philip

Jim is a person who came to me through foster care. I was introduced to him at a party I went to with my foster mom.  Somebody told the hostess that I played the piano.  I had taught myself how to play when I was young and still living with my biological mother.  I was introduced to Jim, who is a piano instructor. He had me play what I knew. I played for him Mozart’s Turkish March and he was very impressed. He was so moved by my talent, and the background I had, that he offered to give me free piano lessons once a week. From then on, and throughout high school I went to his house for an hour’s lesson after school every Tuesday. He and his wife welcomed me to their home with open arms. I began to see Jim as a mentor and went to him about advice. I have known Jim for 11 years now and having recently moved to San Francisco I don’t get to see him as often, but we still manage to stay in touch.  – Domingo

The women in my Independent Living Program were absolutely fantastic-always ready and willing to listen, attentive to learning who I truly was, and they were sincerely loving and concerned with my well-being.  – Ivory

One of the most special people in my life I would have to say is my foster mother. She is always there for me; no matter what I m going through she is always there to help, or just listen. She has helped me get to where I am now, and for that she will always have a special place in my heart. She has a big heart, and is always willing to help those in need, and one day I hope to be as kind and as patient as she is. – Filomena

My grandma is that special person that has always been there. No, she didn’t have money nor could she give me lavish gifts, but she always showed me unconditional love. Before I became an orphan, my grandma was always very loving and protective over me. We were separated for a while; however, once I reconnected with her, the love she gave me was still the same. She always told me that my parents were proud of me and that I had God-given strength. From as far back as I can remember (3 to 4 years-old), my grandma used to always tell me that I was her best friend. To this day, she still says the I’m her best friend. I know that no matter where I am in life, I’ll always have at least one person in my corner, my grandma.  – Jerome

Rosa is the mother of a good friend I had as a freshman in high school. She was willing to initially support me and later completely willing to take me in after my mother died. Her relentless support of my ambitions has revealed how selflessly benevolent individuals can be. – Michael

My hero is one of my old teachers, Mrs. Hunwick. The reason why she is so special to me is because of the way she goes above and beyond to help a child. She would take me out to eat and to Barnes & Noble to get books, once a month. This was huge for me because she wouldn’t let me pay for anything….for the life of me I could not figure out why she wanted to waste her time and money on me. Those visits were very special to me though because it gave me something to look forward to every month. It also enabled me to increase my reading and writing skills because of all the books she bought me.  Books became an escape for me during my foster care years. But the story doesn’t end there…I was told by my case worker that I would remain in the foster care system until I graduated high school. My caseworker was wrong….suddenly I aged out and government stopped paying for my care, and I had nowhere to live except for my car with three months of high school left. When Mrs. Hunwick found out she asked me to move in with her for those three months, which enabled me to be the first in my biological family to graduate high school and go to college. The part that impacted me the most was that she did not charge me anything, and would not let me pay for anything while I stayed there. She got no compensation for me what so ever, but she still cared enough to take me in during my last three months of high school. Those three months were the closest thing I ever had to a true home. I will forever be grateful. – Sara

Being adopted allowed my grandfather, Leon, to become part of my life. Having a single mother, he was my only father figure. He taught me everything from how to mow a lawn, to basic math, and everything in between. While we may not have gotten along at certain points, his love for me was unconditional- a characteristic I will never forget. – Robert (and the same was said by his brother, Michael)

When I was placed into foster care my siblings and I were placed into different homes. The social workers were unable to find a house that was able to accommodate my 4 siblings and me until Limbania and Carolina opened up their home to us and reunited my family. There have been a lot of rough time and struggles but I am glad they have come into my life. Thanks to their love and support, my family is a strong as ever.  – Jeffrey

My hero is my 12th grade bus driver.  I was always the last student, waiting to go home.  I was so excited to tell her news about my acceptances to colleges, and my dreams to be a fashion designer, and then how one day I’d like to end up on TV.  She’d always say I’d get there, and how she couldn’t wait to see me “doing my thang.”  She was the first person to ever tell me that.  Every time I want to give up, I just remember her and her uplifting words.  Living my dream is bigger than just ME now.  My dream now is to find  a way to create art to give back to those who believed in me.  – Terrel

No single person has affected my life positively as much as my grandmother.  I consider myself very lucky to be in contact with any of my biological family, as it is a short list, and I barely have managed to keep connections with my prior foster family.  My grandmother was my mother’s mother.  It took a very brave woman to stand up even when her daughter was considered unfit as a mom, and not protect her own past parenting, or her shining offspring, but the safety of a child.   ***   Even today, as she battles stage four cancer she still calls every week to make sure we both know the other is alive and breathing.  Somehow, we laugh about it all, the slight insanity and misfortunes that have been bestowed upon our lives, but somehow failed to ruin us, and we value the truth as commonplace.   ***   We bonded in the crux of it all.  Even better is that together we have become people that truly understand that love can be unconditional. – Acadia

My biggest influencers were my godparents, Inge and Werner. They have been there since birth and have always taken their jobs seriously as godparents. Although I have been with five families they were my constant which I think was the key to my sanity. – Joshua

My special person is Regina. I met her through the Foster Care to Success mentoring program seven years ago, and we still email regularly. She is a dear friend. She has always been there to support me, and she’s someone to talk to when I don’t have anyone else. She sends me gifts every holiday, which I appreciate most especially because my parents aren’t around to do that anymore. When the holidays come, and I’m missing my parents, getting Regina’s packages in the mail makes me feel better. She is just a kind, wonderful person. I’m grateful to have her as a friend.  – Jessica

The people who are special to me would be my parents and not society’s perspective of parents, but the ones who raised me. They were my second foster parents. They are special to me because when I felt like no one loved me and no one could, they showed me there was still hope. They have shown me compassion and continue to be there for me even years later into my adulthood. They didn’t give birth to me, but they have done so much more for me then the lady who did. – Talisa

I think about my CASAs. Both were very influential in giving me the support I needed to help me get where I am. They were both supportive and were always there when I needed them, and I am truly grateful for them. Even now I still continue to see them and keep in touch with them. I am very proud to have them be part of my life. They are always kinds, sweet, gentle, and most of all very loving.  – Alejandra

I could write novels on how much my brothers mean to me, and how they have always been my rock. I would do anything for them, without a thought. They have gone through so much in their short lives, and have never even thought to blame their past for anything that happens in their life. To me they are the image of innocence, purity, love, and strength. I would not be where I am without them, and there is no one in the world I could ever love more. In fact it is very hard for me to every just sit and think about my brothers without crying. They are my heroes. – Kassi

When I was first placed into foster care, I lived in the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home. My house parents, Ms. June and Mr. Woody, were amazing and I still keep in touch with them today. I am so blessed to have had these two as my house parents and one day I would love for Mr. Woody to walk me down the aisle. – Michaela

I have two special people in my life who go hand in hand (literally) – my foster parents Kihei and Mapuana. Before I came to live with them, I didn’t know what it was like to have a family. I didn’t know that family meant that there are people you can actually count on, people that even in the peak of their anger, still make sure to tell you that they love you. Before them, I didn’t know that love was anything but conditional. I thought love had rules and conditions. But with them, no matter how badly I mess up and upset them, they’re still going to stand there with me and we’ll weather the storm together. – Britny

Mrs. Bajc was my respite mom.  I went to respite often because my behavior was not the best.  I was what they called a “problem” child, but Mrs. Bajc saw right through that.  She was the first woman who told me that she saw something in me.  I will never forget when she told me “You have potential girl, you can be whatever you want to be and I believe in you.”  Mrs. Bajc was the first woman who actually believed in me and got me to believe in myself. –  Melanie

I really would credit Hillsides Home for Children (Episcopal Church) in L.A. for helping keep my life moving in a positive direction. I was court-ordered to go to therapy there, ended up going on a backpacking trip where I met my future wife, and received really good support there from a therapist, Tom. I also learned about the independent learning program, and probably through that program, about OFA (Foster Care to Success) which has obviously been the greatest support I have received of all! – Richard

I could not have done all that I have without my parents Jane and Michael. At first they were my foster parents, but when I was 16 they adopted me. They supported me in everything that I wanted to do no matter how crazy or odd, including running in the Spartan Race and starting and running both my high school and my college quidditch teams. They would do any favor for me and take care of anything that caused me to worry when they could. Doing that allowed me to develop into the person I am today by being able to focus on what was important. For that I will be forever thankful and I am proud to say they are my parents and some of my greatest friends. – Lauren

We celebrate ALL of our foster care heroes – today, during the month of May, and always.  Thank you!

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