"Listen to and engage young people themselves in work of making things better. They know the shortcomings of the foster care system. They are best situated to articulate the solutions. Incredible personal and leadership development opportunities for those young people lie in efforts to build a movement and campaign for change. Be open to innovation, to changes, to different ways to use “the money.” It is not your money, it is held and used in trust. Protecting jobs, institutions, the status quo is a moral failure if those things are not doing much to make young people’s lives better."

"You may have started out with a different childhood than you wanted, and you may feel scared going into adulthood in a way that you hadn’t planned. But whatever your story, it is yours. Never be ashamed to let your experiences shape you to be better. Never be reluctant to help others who are also hurting. Let your past mold your future into something beautiful, just like a diamond that has been pressed and purified. You have something special to offer this world… never forget that."

"If you are in the system now, keep your head up - even when you feel like nobody is there for you. Always keep your dreams and hopes up. Even if it doesn’t feel like it sometimes, remember that there is someone who cares for you.

"If you're in foster care now, keep your head up. It may look dark and gloomy now but there is a light. Try and find positives in your situation because dwelling on all the negatives makes it seem a whole lot worse!"

"I am here to tell you YOU ARE LOVED! You don't need those people who have hurt you repeatedly, you don't need their love or approval. If you are in foster care, this time of your life will end... you won't be abused forever. Once you love yourself, nothing can ever bring you down!"

"The foster care system taught me to be my own advocate. I felt like I didn't have anyone that cared about me, about my life, or about the things I was concerned with. I learned to be my own advocate. I had to fight tooth and nail to be recognized and respected. It was a learning lesson that served me well — now as a law student, I do the same things for my clients."

"The world taught me that there is a God who loved me enough to do what was best for me no matter how much it hurt at the time. The foster care system taught me that there are people in the world who care and who will make sacrifices just to let you know you are important and valuable."

"Today, I appreciate everything that I have been through and fully understand that everything happens for a reason. I believe in positive energy and karma so I try to take every bad and see the good in it.”