I am a first-generation Hispanic college graduate who is also a foster care alumni. Statistically the odds of going to college were against me I realized this from a young age and as a result always sought bring to light some disparities and advantages that some were afforded. I knew that college would give me the appropriate stage to have conversations about the social injustices that exist. And that is where most of the work can be done. Working within the college system is not only very rewarding but is also an opportunity to work with a diverse population of students.
I have first-hand knowledge of the struggles that foster youth face in their pursuit to a post-secondary education. Having had these past experiences, I share Butte Colleges goal of providing a quality education and support services that promote diversity and equity to ensure that every student has the support they need to be successful. Connection with foster youth is something that is more of a special relationship because it is not just academic it actually resonates with some of the same shared experiences. there sis some support I can offer as a former foster youth that no all can do. Because that shared experience a lot like with other identities and communities that are under the student equities umbrella the foster youth population is unique in the experiences they have had (give details).
Having a mentor is very important to students realizing their goals. However, finding the right mentor can be a challenge in its own. Mentoring helps make faculty, staff and students a part of a change, by helping them get to know students of diverse backgrounds; which they may otherwise have preconceived opinions and bias against. During this relationship, the mentors themselves become engaged, committed and invested in the success of their mentees. This helps them reduce their biases and learn about the representative of the minority group and makes them become champions of diversity.
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Having this experience, I felt that it was my duty to present during Diversity Days and moderate a panel discussion of former foster youth from a diverse background. My life experiences and interactions with the students of Inspiring Scholars has exposed me to wide spectrum of backgrounds. It was only while at Inspiring Scholars that I came to find that the LGBTQ community is an overrepresented population within the foster care system. I have made it my mission at Butte College to bring awareness to these sub populations and bring to light some of the struggles that these students face. When organizing the 1st annual Foster Care Awareness Month celebration, I worked alongside students to identify some of issues that they felt were most important and that the rest of the community should be aware of. The consensus among a committee of students was that trauma in the classroom be highlighted.
Having attended various trainings from motivational interviewing to trauma informed care, has given me the tools to work with students to resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities, to find motivation from within to make life changes. It has been through these trainings that I have also learned a lot about myself. My skills in critical listening, motivational interviewing as well as shared experiences allows me to be sensitive and empathetic. These traits continue to serve me in interacting and engaging students from diverse backgrounds.
My Goal
As a foster care alumni, the students were able to see that success is possible. I recounted the hardships that I experienced in life, school and in pursuit to a post-secondary education. It was these shared experiences that allowed the students to open up and for the first time be able to talk about pursuing a post-secondary education. In my spare time I would work with I have always had this idea that I would be a voice for those that were unable to speak for themselves. At the age of 8, my three sister and I were thrown into the foster care system. While in care, I suffered abuse at the hands of our Foster parents due my inability to speak English. I quickly developed a voice and advocated to be rehomed. My experience and education have often merged, which I am currently a supporter for the California Youth Connection (“CYC”), which is an advocacy group that advocates for change through legislative and policy means.
This Knowing that this abuse and other injustices continue to be a rampant part of the foster care system, I have It is this work as an advocate and my past experiences that has given me the want to do more for foster youth. Within the foster community there is a diverse population, however we find that there are more Hispanics and African American in the system. When I was placed in foster care at the age of 8, I did not speak English. I was placed with a foster family that did not speak Spanish and that held some resentment that in turn was channeled in to abuse. I strive to change who can be foster parents and have stability, this is exampled in my work with CYC, in where we have pushed the narrative that more training and background checks needs to be done. While this issue has not hit center stages, this has been promoted within the local areas that request more training and background checks.
I value and recognize the importance of having everyone be part of the conversation. Within the Foster care system and in the Inspiring Scholars program, LGBTQ is an overrepresented population. Meaning that youth that are LGBTQ are more likely than their peers to suffer some kind of abuse. At least 1 in 4 of the students in Inspiring Scholars identify as LGBTQ. A key aspect in building and maintaining diversity is to understand that being a minority means that we as a college must do as much as we can to bring awareness to school that these minority populations have a voice and should be heard.
