Michael J. / Being able to share my experiences and offer guidance to the next generation of foster youth felt like a responsibility and a privilege.
On a hot day in July, our team was on a college campus in Los Angeles, celebrating foster youth high school graduates and handing out Next Step Kits when we spotted a familiar face step up to the podium.
It was Michael, a Sparks alum, standing boldly before a room of more than 200 strangers, sharing his story and passing along lessons from his own journey, like the reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out, and that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
He was met with applause and cheers throughout his speech as he shared these lessons he had learned, along with the obstacles he had overcome, and all that he had gone on to achieve.
Watching Michael take the stage was a powerful reminder of how far a young person can go when they have the support to believe in themselves and how impactful it can be when they turn around and offer that same encouragement to someone else.
Here’s Michael, in his own words, on what that moment meant to him:
"Standing on that stage as a former Sparks mentee was incredibly meaningful for me. It was a chance to give back to the community that had such a profound impact on my life. As someone who has journeyed through the foster care system and navigated college as a first-generation student, I understand the challenges that many young people face. Being able to share my experiences and offer guidance to the next generation of foster youth felt like a responsibility and a privilege."
But moments like this don’t happen overnight. From January to November 2023, Michael was part of Foster Nation’s Sparks mentorship program, where he built confidence, strengthened his skills, and developed the tools that would eventually help him step into opportunities like this one.
"My time in the Sparks program was instrumental in getting me to that moment. It honed my communication skills and helped me cultivate relationships within the community, including with my coach from Foster Nation. This mentorship not only enhanced my social skills but also deepened my understanding of the hard and soft skills necessary in the workforce. I learned about financial literacy, career development, and the importance of personal goal setting, tools that I hope will empower others just as they empowered me."
He took what he had learned and made sure to pass it on, sharing his experience and encouragement with the foster youth in the room that day. He shares:
"Motivating these young individuals as they transition from high school to the next chapter of their lives made me feel like I was contributing to a brighter future. It reminded me that no one has to walk this path alone, and that together, we can support each other through every challenge."
One of the most impactful parts of Michael’s speech was the four pieces of advice he shared at the end:
Find your support system
Ask questions and build relationships with mentors
Get involved
Never isolate yourself
Michael sharing his story at the Sparks Halftime Celebration.
We were grateful to hear Michael share these words, and we knew others would be encouraged by them, too. So we invited him to share his story again at our Sparks Halftime Celebration, where he received another warm reception from the community.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Michael, it’s that he isn’t afraid to share his story. In fact, he wrote a whole book about it.
His autobiography, Echoes of Resilience, is a deeper look into his journey, the challenges he’s overcome, and the resilience that has carried him forward.
If you’d like to hear more of Michael’s story, you can find Echoes of Resilience on Amazon here.
