Rich is an Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation scholar who is currently attending Arizona State University. Below is their story in their words about the AFFCF Post-Secondary Scholarship.
“When I aged out of foster care in 2018, I no longer was certain about what I had wanted out of college. For the longest time, I was dead set on studying some kind of science, which later settled into biochemistry. But after turning 18, that aspiration didn’t fulfill me anymore; I dreaded the last science and math classes I had to take to graduate high school.
Plot Twist
Through my involvement with Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, I could indulge in my long-standing favorite hobby of writing, and through the support I found in their programs, I reoriented myself toward a bachelor’s degree in creative writing in Fall 2020 with the intention of then getting my master’s degree in library sciences and becoming a librarian.
I learned about Arizona Friends of Foster Children (AFFCF) during my first year at Arizona State University, and I became an AFFCF scholar by my sophomore year. That first year of university also saw me adding minors in Spanish literature and transborder studies, later making Spanish literature my second major and taking on a certificate in LGBTQ+ studies. I wanted to get the most out of my time in university, and I have been very proud to thrive in the academic environment with above a 4.0 GPA in ASU’s Barrett Honors College.
A New Chapter
I was so lucky to be able to study abroad for the Fall 2022 semester in Sevilla, Spain and for a month during the summer of 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AFFCF was a huge help in being able to afford to go and in providing social support during moments of culture shock. The community I’ve made among other AFFCF scholars has also been a large part of the social life college is known for, and I look forward each semester to seeing the peers and mentors that I’ve gone through this journey with.
I used to be an overly cautious person, always second guessing my skills and capacity to succeed, but through the opportunities I’ve received and seeing myself accomplish immense tasks with ease, I have found the surefooted confidence to trust myself to be great regardless of the obstacles, which brings to mind my favorite quote from a favorite podcast, Welcome to Night Vale:
“The past is gone, and cannot harm you anymore. And while the future is fast coming for you, it always flinches first and settles in as the gentle present. This now, this us? We can cope with that.”
Epilogue
I’m currently applying to University of Arizona’s library sciences Master degree program, and I am set to graduate from Arizona State University in May of 2024.”
AFFCF’s Post-Secondary programs not only provide financial aid to scholars with foster care backgrounds, but also the support and encouragement they need to keep moving forward in their life. Like Rich. Because of the support from caring people like you, Rich was able to fully immerse themself in college life and take advantage of opportunities that she otherwise would not be able to experience.
For more than 40 years, AFFCF has been changing the story for young people in foster care. You can help young men and women write new chapters in the stories of their lives by donating to AFFCF today. Through the Arizona Foster Care Tax Credit, you can get up to $1,051 right back in your wallet. And you can count your gift toward your 2023 Arizona state taxes through April 15, 2024. Give today!