Debra’s Story: From Feeling Like a Number to Finding Her Voice

Debra remembers what it felt like to be seen as a number.

“I feel like growing up, I definitely felt more like a number… like someone that can be read off a piece of paper than a person.”

Growing up in the foster care system, that feeling stayed with her. Decisions were made around her. Expectations were set for her. And like many young people, she was left trying to figure out where she fit into it all.

After aging out of the system, that uncertainty didn’t go away. She was trying to find her footing, and at one point, she experienced homelessness. She knew she needed support, but like many young people in her position, she wasn’t always sure where to find it or who to trust.

That began to change when she found Foster Forward.

From the beginning, something felt different. The first time she walked in, it felt welcoming. Like meeting people for the first time in a space where you could just be yourself.

“It was just inviting… very inviting.”

Instead of being told what she had to do, Debra was asked a simple question: What do you want to do?

“That helped me a lot because I felt stuck. I feel like the career paths in school weren’t for me, and Foster Forward made me realize that there was a lot more for me than I thought.”

Foster Forward became a place where she could show up as herself. A place that felt safe, not forced. Supportive, not prescriptive.

“It didn’t feel like I had to do anything. I could just show up… it was a very safe and comforting place.”

Through Foster Forward, Debra didn’t just find a safe space. She found tools. She learned to manage finances, understand housing, and navigate the real-world responsibilities of adulthood.

“Foster Forward has definitely been the one place I can say that has taught me most of those things.”

And just as important, she found people she could rely on.

“The amount of times I’ll just text Lindsay a random question… she’s like my second mom.”

But just as important as the skills and support was something deeper.

She began to realize that her voice mattered.

“I always had the voice. I’ve always had something to say. I just feel like now I can be heard saying it.”

Today, she is a teen advocate, using her experiences to speak up for other young people. She shares her story, offers perspective, and helps shape conversations around what youth in foster care actually need.

“I’ve seen countless policies and decisions fail because they didn’t want the input of youth.”

For Debra, being part of Foster Forward means being part of something bigger.

“To be part of the Foster Forward community, it means to be part of the change instead of just being part of the statistics.”

She knows the challenges young people face do not disappear overnight. But she also holds onto something else.

“It’s never too late… just like the good things don’t last very long, the bad things don’t last either.”

Her story is still being written. But one thing is clear.

She is no longer just a number.

She is part of the change.