In her senior year at University of San Francisco, Thuy continues to take a heavy class load while emersing herself in campus life, being an active member in several groups. Fostering Futures has followed Thuy’s progress from her freshman year, observing her develop into a confident well-rounded independent young woman. Her mentor uses words such as “focused, positive, excellent student” to describe her. Thuy has sought out internships and works hard during the summer months to support herself financially. She spent part of her junior year at University College Dublin Business School, which will add to her already impressive resume preparing her for a degree in Business Administration and a business career.
“I spent the fall semester abroad in Ireland. It was an amazing life experience and I want to thank Fostering Futures for supplying me with my whole year’s scholarship to fund that experience. Your contribution has helped me a lot and has helped make my life a lot easier so I can focus on school and be a good student.”
Aricka has put her abusive childhood behind her, and has used her background to speak out on behalf of foster youth and increase public awareness of their challenges. After graduating from University of California Davis with a degree in Psychology, she is in the second year of a Master’s program at San Francisco State University, with the ultimate goal of becoming a college counselor. She has every reason to be proud of her accomplishments, which she gained through determination and hard work.
We met Aaron when he was attending Princeton University and have joyfully followed his progress since that time. Now an honor student at University of California Boalt Hall School of Law, Aaron has married his college sweetheart from Princeton, who has been accepted into medical school. Although Aaron had a horrific youth, filled with violence and abuse, he has worked hard to move forward in creating a peaceful rewarding life, and we know he will continue to succeed. As an articulate and personable young man, Aaron also makes himself available any time there is a spokesperson needed to advocate for foster youth. He is an inspiration to many.
Toni graduated from San Jose State University with a BA in Criminal Justice. She is very excited to have been accepted into University of California Hastings School of Law. When Toni was 12, she was put in foster care after her mother died. WIth an absentee father, she first lived with her maternal grandmother, who later became ill and passed away. It has been a real struggle for Toni, but she has persevered. She admits to having “no social life” because her days are filled with studies and working to pay her bills. She admittedly did poorly in her first two years of college, but she turned herself around and improved her academic performance, graduating with honors from San Jose State. Now about to embark on her law studies, Toni is a serious young woman who has made many sacrifices to achieve her goals, and we have confidence that she will succeed.
After graduating from San Jose State University with Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology, Kevin is headed to Washington to attend University of Washington School of Social Work to attain a Master’s degree in Social Work. Like many former foster youth, Kevin wants to help others who are experiencing some of life’s roadblocks he had the misfortune to experience. With lots of personality and even more tenacity Kevin continues to work toward his goal of a higher degree, which will result in his becoming a social worker. With his personal background, he wishes to focus on the issues faced by the segment of our society that is dealing with homelessness.
An English major who loves poetry, Sarah academically is a star. Although faced with many personal challenges her first year at San Francisco State, she earned a 3.4 gpa with a heavy class schedule. This bright young woman continues to lead her life filled with positive thoughts, seeing each hurdle as an opportunity to learn lessons. Her Fostering Futures mentor calls her amazing and talented. 
Having lost a brother to a violent death and then subsequently losing his mother also, Matthew was forced into maturity at an early age. Near completing his goal of attaining a degree from San Jose State University, his career goal is to work in the field of communications, possibly as a radio broadcaster. Like so many of our students, Matthew works many hours to pay his personal expenses and he looks forward to soon using his skills and education toward building a successful career and rewarding future.