"Stay in school and know the foster system is not there to hurt you all!"
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"Being a former foster youth is challenging, but it has made you strong. Don't let that strength go to waste. Use it, and never give up."
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"I think the system taught me who I truly am. The system taught me to fight for myself and what I deserve in life."
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"Be optimistic about your situation so that you may see the opportunity for growth and greatness."
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"The foster care system has taught me that no matter how hard the circumstances may be, no matter what you are faced with, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to keep pushing."
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"Push through, be smart, love yourself although others may not, and most importantly, be your own champion. It is easy to fall into a narrative of thinking that you are only what those around you tell or treat you to be, but your fate is in your hands."
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"I learned that no matter how great the adversity, I will overcome."
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"My ability to not only break these challenges down, but to come out of them and THRIVE, is forever something that will speak volumes to my character."
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"When you #SpeakUp, you never know who's listening, so please, please speak up. The possibilities are endless when you do! You're not alone, I am here with you. I stand with and for you, always."
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"The system taught me that I was stronger than what I knew, and wiser than what I felt."
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"Hope is the only thing we have left to help us get through and keep going--to keep fighting. Hope is the only power we have in certain situations so hang on to that."
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"The foster care system taught me to be self motivated and leave no corner unturned. It taught me resilience, independence, hard work, determination and above all, strategy and timing."
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"Every young person in the system should know that they are valued and loved despite what they may be experiencing in the moment or experienced in the past."
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"I think that all youth transitioning out of the foster care system needs help with basic necessities. If we can continue to provide those for them as they exit, they will have a better chance in doing the things that will help them move up."
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"Mistakes can teach you to be resilient, strong, loving, caring, and so much more!"
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"I've been in 30 foster homes, 2 group homes, 16 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools all from the ages of 7-21."
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"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."
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"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."
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"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.
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"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!"
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