Being a DREAM Ambassador means I get to do something I didn’t always think I could do, use my story to make a difference. As a young person in Alabama’s foster care system, I know firsthand how it feels to be misunderstood. Do you know what it’s like to have people look at you and think they already know your whole story before you’ve said a word? It’s not great. When I learned about this opportunity with Children’s Aid Society of Alabama’s Independent Living program, I believed I could help kids like me feel more understood and help represent them. Foster Care Awareness Month matters so much to me, because I don’t think people can understand what it’s like to be in foster care, but everyone can learn how to help youth in foster care feel more seen and less like we don’t belong.
I was asked to answer some questions about what this experience as a DREAM Ambassador has been like: what I’ve learned, what I’ve faced, and why I keep showing up. Here’s what I have to say, I hope you’ll hear it.
Why Does Foster Care Awareness Month Matter?
A lot of people only see foster care from the outside. They might hear about it on the news, or know someone who fostered a kid once, but they don’t really know what it’s like. There’s a heavy emotional weight, and a lot of uncertainty. I don’t think people realize the mental load that kids and teenagers in foster care carry while we’re just trying to get through the day.
When communities really take the time to learn more about what we go through, some good things can happen for us. People can become a little more compassionate and willing to help us feel accepted instead of judged. It’s important because it kind of says, “Hey, here’s what we’re going through…now what are you going to do with that?”
What Stereotypes About Youth in Foster Care Have You Encountered from Other Youth and Adults?
I’m not going to sugarcoat it: the stereotypes about foster youth are out there, and they sting. I’ve heard kids my age say that foster youth are “troubled” or “angry” or always getting into trouble. And from adults? That we won’t graduate, that we won’t go anywhere, and basically that we won’t amount to much.
What those stereotypes miss completely is the strength it takes for us to keep going. It’s really discouraging to know that people have these ideas about you. To wake up every day and push forward through hard things that most people will never fully understand isn’t easy. We’re trying, we want to be successful and when we have connections to people who believe in us, it doesn’t always make it easier, but it feels more realistic. Like we really can reach our goals and dreams, we deserve that hope like everyone else. We are not our past, we are our potential.
How Do Dream Ambassadors Help Spread Awareness and Advocate for Themselves and Other Youth in Foster Care?
The answer is pretty simple, DREAM Ambassador’s show up and we share our stories and experiences. We go to events, we have conversations with leaders who can work on policy, and we tell our stories. We do it because we know it makes a difference for people to really see us as more than statistics or stereotypes. We learn how to advocate for ourselves, and that’s important. For me, once I learned how to advocate for myself, I became a better advocate for young people who aren’t ready to use their voices yet. There are a lot of us who are still figuring things out. Sometimes, people just need someone else to go first and show them that it’s okay to speak up, that you won’t be ignored or punished for trying to do the right thing.
In Your Time as a DREAM Ambassador, What has Been one of Your Best Memories or Experiences So Far?
We were asked to speak at a certain Gala in Deatsville, AL. We’re never forced to speak publicly about our experiences, and before this gala, I was pretty happy to just serve in the background. Speaking publicly about my life and the things I’ve been through made me nervous. But after I shared my story, I realized that people truly listened and connected with me, that was powerful. It made me feel heard, valued and proud of how far I’ve come. That experience showed me in real life, that what we do matters. My story matters, and it could be exactly what someone else needs to feel less alone. But I’d like to close by saying, we are more than our stories. We are the future.
This article was submitted by an Independent Living DREAM Ambassador. The writer is not named with respect to maintaining their privacy while they remain in care. We are incredibly appreciative of this young person’s willingness to share their perspective, we agree they are indeed the future, and we are proud to know them. Independent Living (IL) is a collaborative effort between Children’s Aid Society of Alabama and Alabama DHR. IL services are also supported by The Caring Foundation Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Protective Life Foundation, Hugh Kaul Foundation, Hill Crest Foundation, Alabama Power Foundation, Junior League of Birmingham and community supporters like you. Learn more about Independent Living and how you can get involved by visiting www.childrensaid.org/il.