×

A Letter From a Teen Girl in Foster Care

A Letter From a Teen Girl in Foster Care

Dear Possible Foster Families,

I am a 14-year-old youth in foster care. Here are some things I think you should know about me: I’m kind, very humble, accepting of people for who they are, I love to dance and play soccer, and I love hanging out with people and just spending quality time together.

I came to residential treatment in November of 2015 and I have been here ever since. When I came here, I was not at my very best. I would always have staff redirecting me and I hated adults. I didn’t like them at all to be honest. I didn’t want anything to do with them. It was April of 2016 when that all changed. I used to always get bad scores but that day I got a 97%. Then I started following all the rules and had privileges. Then there was a situation that happened and I self-harmed. I regrouped after that but one day I was so depressed and my head was telling me I had to die. At the beginning of October 2016, I attempted suicide. I’m glad I didn’t succeed because I am strong and healthy today.

Now that I look back at all those things, I think about how far I have come. I am constantly following staff direction and rules, and I normally have privileges, such as leaving campus. I haven’t self-harmed in over a year and I haven’t attempted suicide in almost a year.

If I took off my jacket today, you could not even tell I used to self-harm because all my scars and hopelessness has faded away. I am ready to leave because I have proven that I can trust adults. Now that I am 14 years old, I know there is not just bad people in the world but also good people. The main thing I have to do is give people a chance to love me, care for me, provide for me, and accept me for who I am. The family can be any race and have kids of any age. I just want a family.

Sometimes I start to feel hopeless and like nobody wants me because my biological family is not good for me and I don’t have another family. All I want is a family and I would like one as soon as possible because I don’t want to be in here for another Thanksgiving, Christmas, or birthday. I have been waiting for a family for a long time and if I can have a family I will be the happiest kid in the world. I love the people here but I think I am ready to start a new chapter of my life.

So, this note doesn’t tell my whole life story but I hope that you all can take it and tell someone about me. I hope that this letter provides you some information to help me and other kids like me get a family or forever home. If you can make my dreams or another kid’s dream come true, you will not regret it.

Sincerely,

A 14-year-old youth in foster care