Youth aging out of foster care face many challenges during their transition to adulthood. These youth often are not equipped with the general life skills they need in order to succeed as adults. Federal policies have been established to help support youth during this transition, but many still struggle. Because school counselors work with youth in the areas of academic, career and personal/social development, they are in a unique position to help youth with this transition. This essay reviews, the challenges youth in foster care face and perspectives on how school counselors can positively support these youth in a school setting, to ensure they are aware and can be prepared for what is to come, upon aging out of the system.
Keywords: challenges, succeed, foster youth.
The choices we make early in life have an enormous impact on our future. I have always known that I wanted to positively impact other's lives. My personal and work experiences have impacted my motivation to accomplish all my dreams. In the future, I would love to influence another generation of students to also achieve their dreams.
Life can be so shallow and unrewarding, if you are living each day with no plan for the future and have few thoughts about helping others. I feel very fortunate that the goals I have formed for myself over the past few years are helping me make the most of every opportunity that presents itself. Also through my experiences, I have not only identified my dreams, but also fostered dreams and goals that will benefit others. Amongst my experiences starting with my college internship at the Child Advocacy Center, to my current position as a Special Education Para-Professional, along with everything in between, I have seen a glimpse of the future I am aiming for. With the body of experience I have built up, I see a career for myself in school counseling. I know that I have to further pursue a firm educational background upon which to build my future.
