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Coming into foster care at age 13, loosing everything that is familiar, all family and friends and any cultural ties, is devastating to a teenage girl. Sara moved into one of our foster home over 4 years ago, at the beginning of 9th grade. She was very quiet, withdrawn and shy. Through many hours spent talking with Sara I got to know her pretty, she is smart, funny, sarcastic and very thoughtful. She has found a home at YFC and considers her foster parents as real parents.
Sara didn’t care that she was going to be a fifth year senior in high school or that she had failed a number of classes each year. Failure was easier to handle than hoping and wishing for good in her life. Sara never tried to set her sights high about her future, she was hopeless. Along came her social worker that wasn’t willing to let this smart, bright, young girl fall through the cracks of foster care. She met with her every month always asking the right question and staying on top of Sara’s education and goals. Her worker pushed her to take running start exams and look into some college programs. Sara has always thought about going into the cosmetology program but did not think it could or would ever happen. Sara passed the running start exams and was enrolled in running start and the cosmetology program at Clover Park.
A few weeks ago we spent the day walking around learning the campus, going to the bookstore, and getting her parking pass, on the way to our celebratory lunch Sara said quietly, “I never thought I’d go to college”. I told her I knew she would, that she is a smart girl and has a bright future a head of her. The foster mom has noted that Sara is now walking around the house with her shoulder back in confidence saying “I’m a college student, school is going to be hard but I’m a college student.” We have seen a dramatic change in this teen, what can a little push in the right direction do for other kids?
Sara knows the road is not going to be easy and that she has a lot of work to do but she is excited about what her future holds!!
by Anna Benson
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