Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Joseph’s Journey of Resilience and Success
A Foundation of Culture and Resilience
Joseph grew up surrounded by love, culture, and sacrifice. As a proud Puerto Rican, his childhood was filled with salsa music, family gatherings, and meals cooked with care. While many in his family hadn’t finished high school or gone to college, their daily sacrifices inspired him to become the first in his family to pursue higher education.
From a young age, Joseph learned that his culture was a source of strength. “The connection, the care, the love—that’s what pushed me to be someone my family would be proud of,” he shared. His heritage gave him resilience, and his family’s sacrifices fueled his determination.
Photo of Joseph
Dreams Realized
That determination has taken Joseph further than he once believed possible. Joseph became a part of Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation’s Post-Secondary Program, which supports young adults in or aging out of foster care like him. Students like Joseph have scholarships and access to emergency funds that allow them to pursue higher education. This program helped Joseph attend Northern Arizona University and today, he is studying abroad in Japan as an English and Creative Writing major.
“AFFCF lifted a burden off of me and my family,” Joseph said. “It gave me the chance to focus on my education and reminded me I wasn’t alone.” That support has made all the difference in his ability to stay connected to who he is while chasing what lies ahead.
He often thinks back to his journey and says to himself, “Mama, I made it.” Yet, he’s quick to admit that reaching this point hasn’t been easy. At times, he doubted whether he was capable of greatness. But with the encouragement of his heritage, the love of his family, and the support of AFFCF, Joseph has been able to pursue his dreams with confidence.
Photo taken by Joseph in Japan
Inspiring Others and Giving Back
Joseph’s journey is still unfolding. He dreams of working in cultural heritage, diplomacy, or education, fields where he can share culture, inspire young minds, and continue giving back. Most importantly, he wants to show others, especially Hispanic youth and those in foster care, that their journey belongs to them.
“Don’t be ashamed of your upbringing,” Joseph says. “Take pride in it. Let it motivate you. Mistakes happen, but as long as you keep moving forward, you can create the life you want.”
How You Can Make a Difference
Joseph’s success is a reminder of what’s possible when resilience meets opportunity. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor his story and the 1 in 3 children and youth in foster care in Arizona who identify as Hispanic, and we invite you to be part of the future for more youth like him.
Your gift to AFFCF provides scholarships, support, and encouragement that help young people in foster care dream bigger, reach higher, and build brighter futures.
Together, we can ensure that many more foster care alumni look back one day and say, “I made it.”
Donate today to support youth like Joseph.