Since I was eight years old, I have lived in countless families and attended more than five different elementary and middle schools and four high schools.
To say my upbringing was different than the norm would be an understatement. But I’m not alone. In California, 68,000 young people moving in and out of foster care are currently experiencing the same challenges I am.
As a former foster child, my path to college was not easy. Living with so many different foster families, changing schools frequently, feeling isolated and separated, and falling behind in school were just some of the hurdles I faced on a daily basis. When you live in foster care, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and abandoned because you don’t have a family to pick you up when you’re down. No one is there to comfort you or gently steer you in the right direction when you need it most.
I attended a public high school my freshman year and then transferred to a Catholic school my sophomore year—and then attended two different public schools. Because I moved so often, my school records often got lost. For example, my sophomore year I only attended one school for two weeks before transferring again because things didn’t work out with the foster family. When I got to the new school, I was enrolled as a freshman until I prevailed and got into the sophomore classes where I belonged.
This constant upheaval left me feeling isolated and disconnected. Each move meant a fresh start, new people and a new environment to adapt to. Even the government support services, such as social workers and lawyers, were constantly changing, leaving me without a stable adult to rely on.
The impact was academically devastating. My problems went beyond the frustration of lost records and transcripts. Schools ignored my request for an evaluation for an Individual Education Program (IEP) that I needed. Despite obvious academic difficulties like poor spelling and grammar, teachers just passed me by. As a college student, I continue to face the consequences of these educational gaps.
The turning point came when I met First Star, a community-based organization that supports high school youth in foster care by showing them the path to college. They gave me more than just hope; they offered me concrete support that helped me through the college application process. Even when I moved out of the Los Angeles area, they made sure I had transportation to attend meetings and that I had access to mentoring. They educated me on the true cost of college and how to create a budget and apply for financial aid. I finally had the supportive relationships I needed with caring people I could trust and rely on to prepare me for life after foster care. With their guidance, I was able to apply to college instead of giving up on my goals.
I know I am not alone in my experience. There are many other youth like me who are striving for a better future, going to college, and working hard to overcome the stereotypes of youth in foster care. That sense of community was invaluable and gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. Now I am attending college while also working with children with special needs. My goal is to become a teacher one day.
A recent report from the Foster Youth Pre-college Collective, Destination Graduation, underscores the need for greater support for students in foster care. It highlights a harsh reality: Nearly 37% of foster youth in California do not complete high school within four years, and fewer than half of them begin further education within a year of graduation. The college attendance rate for foster youth is 25% lower than the general population.
This disparity is not due to a lack of ambition or desire to learn. We have the same dreams and potential as any other young person. I speak from personal experience when I say that young people in foster care lack the stability and loving attention that many children growing up in the traditional family take for granted. However, students like me can achieve great things if we are given the right support.
I tell my story for three reasons:
- I want other youth in foster care to see that there is a path to college and independence. I am an example of that.
- I want those in charge of child protection and education to realize that foster children are not just products of their system. We are young people who need more than the ill-fitting clothes and hygiene products that are sent to us every year. To achieve our goals and dreams, we need extra help to process trauma, focus on our studies, and regain our ability to become successful young adults.
- It’s time for public systems to deepen their partnerships with nonprofits that understand us and provide us with the personalized support, mentorship and encouragement we need to get through graduation day and prepare for the future.
Improving the educational attainment of foster children will change their life trajectory.
Andi Mata is a foster youth ambassador and advocate for educational support programs for foster children. She wrote this for EdSource.
