"I was afraid of the pain, afraid of the instability, afraid of being abandoned again. Ultimately, I was afraid of being vulnerable in a world so much bigger than me and having to wonder if I would survive. So I began to #SpeakUp. I began to write, and I began to give others hope that we could make it because I believe we have to fight for people who don’t yet know they are worth fighting for.”

"If you are in the system now, take a deep breath and remember: you are SAFE! Oftentimes, we get stuck in survival mode and forget it's OK to address our pain. Processing the past leads to clarity in the present and preparedness for the future. Also, remember you are not alone — if you maintain a strong support circle, you can achieve anything!”

"Don’t let your circumstances define who you are. It's a common misconception that children in foster care are bad kids. Kids aren't usually in foster care for something they have done. We can’t change the fact that we ended up in foster care as a result of our original caregiver's failure... But you CAN change how people see you. Work on yourself and surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed. You have purpose! You are of value! You are worthy!"

The one piece of advice I can give to my fellow foster sisters and brothers is to find what it is that makes you happy and go for it! Pursue your passion. It is never too early to know what you want to do with your life. Create a plan for yourself as early as possible...or welcome to the beautiful struggle.”

"To those currently in the system: remain strong, faithful, persevere and know you are not alone. Don't ever let anyone say you can't do anything because THEY ARE WRONG. You can do and be whatever you want to be. You can conquer anything or anyone that attempts to keep you down. The only thing that will limit or stop you is the limits you set for yourself.

"Through it all, the foster care system taught me that I could pick and choose what values and skills I wanted to carry with me from each home that I lived in. I have been able to make the most of those skills.

To those in the system now, remember that foster care is temporary. It's unlikely that you will experience anything as bad once you are out, so hang in there!"

"At the end of the day… this is YOUR life, and you need to decide what’s in your best interest and take the initiative in helping yourself. Whether that be defending yourself, becoming your own advocate, scheduling doctor/therapist appointments, applying to college, searching for jobs, or just learning how to promote self-acceptance and self-love—remember, it’s up to you to better yourself and accomplish your goals!"

"I am living proof that you can use those same labels to break through the glass ceiling and dominate every space you walk into. Know that nothing is impossible once you recognize and boldly tell yourself that I’M POSSIBLE."