My name is Alex
“My name is Alex and I’m a senior at North High school. I’ve been in [Volunteers of America-Minnesota’s Foster Care program] for about three years now. I like to think that not much has changed, but my whole world has changed. I wake up, go to school, but it’s different now. I’m in Advanced Placement classes, I’m getting college credits in high school. Not everyone [thrives] in foster care, at least that’s what they tell me. I like to believe different. You see, I don’t think I ever thought I’d be where I am today. I integrated completely into my new life. Not just academic changes, but attitude and lifestyle changes. I have become an excellent speaker and a student [leader] at my high school.
When I first came into foster care at fifteen I was nervous, perhaps even a little scared, but I realized early on that I was in good hands and good care. I am told that others aren’t so lucky. With the help of my foster parents, I have become a new person, I want to succeed. With the help of my foster parents, I was given the want and time to study, the want and hope for college. When I’m not studying, I am involved with Debate, Speech, DECA (a leadership program for student entrepreneurs), and even Model UN at my school. I have also participated in Link Crew, a program that allows juniors and seniors to get freshman oriented, and make sure they have a good first year experience.
Not only that, but I am the senior speaker for graduation at my school, and with my foster parents’ assistance, I will be attending a business convention at Florida in April. I will be going to college in the fall -- of course we haven’t decided where yet, but just knowing that I will get to go to a university and possibly even a private school made me realize just how far I’ve come. But I couldn’t have done any of it without the help and support of my foster parents. While I have only known them for three years I feel as though I have known them my entire life. I used to see them as my foster parents when I was fifteen, but now I’ve come to realize they are more important than that. They’re family. It is for this reason that am writing this letter. I know that not just anybody can make a difference, but everyone together, can. To show that anybody, no matter what background or what influences they may have, can live the life that they build for themselves. They just have to strive for it.”
Since the time Alex wrote this letter, he graduated from high school and is attending college.