May 2019 Foster Care Special Edition

ENVISION EQUITY MAY 2019
After about a year in, I realized it was really difficult to keep up a full-time course load of
studies, work to afford bills and take care of myself while still being blocked by
transportation issues. I had to catch the bus at 6 a.m. for an 8 a.m. class, and I didn’t finish
classes until 3 p.m. I had to catch the bus right after school to be at work on time by 5 p.m.
and worked until 10 or 11 p.m. almost every day. I also was not really enjoying the topic I was
studying.
I decided that I wanted to take the time to figure out what I really wanted for myself, what I
enjoyed and I wanted to get my living situation to stable. After a year and a half of working
different jobs and reflecting on myself, I decided to go back to college at BCTC in May of 2017.
Putting all of my experiences together, and thinking about other role models I had in my life,
I decided that Social Work was the right path for me. I took full time summer courses and
continued taking courses throughout the year and the next summer to catch up. I finished
my Associate in Arts degree at BCTC in the fall of 2018.
I was accepted into the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky and transferred
there for Spring semester of 2019. I am currently finishing my first semester at UK and plan to
continue the road to my Bachelor’s degree.
In May of 2019, my commencement ceremony from BCTC will take place. I am now a college
graduate. I have also obtained my drivers license as of April 2019, and I had saved money and
bought my first car.
I am so grateful for how far I have come on my own considering the obstacles that I had to
cross in order to get here. I may not have had the same opportunities as others, but I am
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