LUCERO NOYOLA / FIND A COMMUNITY, DON'T TRY TO DO IT ALONE

"The most defining moments in my probation foster care experience was when I connected with adults that saw beyond the "criminal" label and treated me like a person. They took an interest in my life, told me I had potential, and offered me support to pursue my interests."

Lucero Noyola shares #HerStory:

"Before I spent time in a group home, I spent 3 years in and out of juvenile detention facilities. At these facilities I was treated like I was unnecessary; a lost cause and I was never offered the opportunity to change. At the group home they treated me like I mattered, and they offered me resources to turn my life around. Even when I was released back home and there were no resources, I knew that support existed. That was enough for me. I went hunting for them on my own, found support in people and organizations and took advantage of them. My hustle would have been for nothing if I was not able to connect with people who helped me along the way.

I needed a community when I was emancipating from the system. I needed to know that I had people in my corner to support me and whom I could depend on. The system taught me the power of resources and having access to opportunities. Now I spend time helping others connect so they can achieve their own goals.

Find a community, don't try to do it alone. Reach out because you can only get so far on your own. With support you can go all the way. I am where I am today because of all the people and organizations that have supported me. They are the reason I have been able to persist through the hard times and accomplish my goals, and then keep going to the next ones ;)"