Savannah L./ Love yourself and focus on you and finish school.

Savannah reflects on her biggest challenge she faced in foster care, herself. Growing up without someone teaching you what is right from wrong was ultimately the hardest thing she had trouble with. Trying to grow up too fast wanting to do adult things. Hanging around the wrong people because she wanted to feel accepted anywhere and everywhere. She learned and overcame that obstacle through her transitional living program "Aspiranet" she had weekly visits with a therapist and learned how to budget. Came across Tracey Rolfe who was the director. She overcame herself and grew up and became who she is today because of a person who never gave up on her even when she felt like life was over It gave her hope and showed her what love felt.

“I was not perfect , I was very naive growing up, I learned my lessons with my overall experience transitioning into an adult..”

“ The most difficult time of being in foster care was thinking no one wanted you..”

Savannah speaks on how she wish people understood she was not perfect , she was very naive growing up, she learned her lessons with her overall experience transitioning into an adult. She would like to see program housing staff teaching budgeting more, making sure the clothing allowance was given monthly, In her experience she had information given to her from a therapist about her brother that was supposed to be kept confidential. Overall her experience with the foster care system good.

She think the general public Donate food , hygiene products, make time for mentorship, and volunteer for foster youth events. Anything makes a difference for the youth. Inviting them even just to church can turn someones life around. Her advice for those experiencing foster care like herself is:

“If it's too good to be true, it is!! Nothing good is easy.!”

She needed most when emancipating out the system was guidance on what to do next. She felt like once she turned 18 her social worker cut her off fast and wanted to just everything over with. It would have been helpful to have them and be sure someone is stable enough to live and give resources at the time or numbers to contact.

Looking back through her experience in foster care she proud of herself for not dropping out of high school , and for not giving up on college even when her GPA was bad. The comfort she felt the most in foster care was going to Bible study with people in the community that wanted to make an impact. Being introduced to jesus started many of her changes in her life.