Above: Jasmine, age 23, rising senior at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This was her first year of college with the Fostering College Success Initiative.

 

The day I moved into the dorms at Queens College it was pretty calm. My support team was there with me the entire time and I felt really excited about the new move. My first semester, I spent my time in the classroom as opposed to the spring semester where I took all online courses except for one. This gave me the opportunity to do other activities on the Queens College campus.  I enjoyed my classes because they were very specific and detailed.

 

I transferred from a different college, so seeing the change in teaching styles was great. I learned a lot about myself through these classes. I did a lot of community service this year through the YAB group for New Yorkers for Children. I was invited to be a part of two galas, helping raise money for youth in care, and it was definitely an exciting experience.

 

My Residential Case Planner, Lovedeep, is amazing to say the least. She always makes sure she can get an answer to my many questions. She is always there for me and I appreciate this very much. My tutor Elizabeth has also been amazing and our time together has been beneficial to me because I feel tutoring is not only about the work.

 

There were times I didn’t have work, but I would still come just to talk about how I was feeling. It was like academic therapy. Her knowing what I felt, and how it affected my work ethic, allowed her to be a better tutor forms me because she was always aware.

 

The most challenging thing about living in the dorms is living with other people and them not having the same living style that you do, but that can be experienced outside as well; however, it is not too bad. Dorming and college never was a problem for me, as I know how to keep focused and stay dedicated to my goals.

 

The above post is an excerpt from an essay written by Jasmine. Click here to learn more about The New York Foundling’s efforts and role in the CUNY/ACS Fostering College Success Initiative.

 

Read the essays of other students by clicking their photos below:

 

         

Above: Ericka

 

I’ve always seen myself on campus, rooming with cool suitemates, enjoying my independence as a student. One of the challenges I knew I would have to face was getting adjusted to the school community. I have used my first year of college to learn how to be more attentive and determined in everything that I do.

 

I felt ready for the independence, relationships, and diverse experiences I would gain at Queens College, that would ensure I reach my personal and academic goals. I took advantage of tutoring, school events, and engaging with my R.A.s to certify that I am on the right track—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

 

I soon realized that I was in the midst of balancing school, tutoring, personal issues, outside projects (regarding my acting and writing career) and dealing with roommates! I dealt with the situation as best as I knew how: with kindness, maturity and rationality. I wanted to move out but I told myself, “just focus on you.”

 

It’s safe to say that I was indecisive about joining the project because I somewhat predicted the circumstances I found myself currently in. Even with the frustration of not being at peace with where I lived I took a step back and looked at all that I had to be grateful for. I get to dorm for free and experience the college life I have always yearned for—a lot of young people don’t get to do that.

 

The above post is an excerpt from an essay written by Ericka.

 

The above post is an excerpt from an essay written by Monica. Click here to learn more about The New York Foundling’s efforts and role in the CUNY/ACS Fostering College Success Initiative.

 

Read the essays of other students by clicking their photos below:

 

        

Above: Jared with his daughter, Maya (left). On the right, a photo of foster dad Daryn.

 

Father’s Day is for celebrating fatherhood in all its forms.

 

This year we’re spotlighting two dads who have beautiful parenting stories. Meet Jared, a new dad to daughter Maya, who he and his wife adopted through The Foundling, and Daryn, a dad who has opened his home to numerous foster teens.

 

Jared

 

It was right before Christmas when Jared and his wife Chrissy found out they would be adopting Maya, an energetic 2 ½ year old who had been living with foster parents since birth. Jared couldn’t wait—he knew adopting a child was important to his wife, and they had only recently completed their training and certification through The Foundling.

 

“It happened really fast and we had to quickly prepare for Maya’s arrival,” Jared explained.

 

In a matter of days, Jared spent time getting to know Maya, pick out children’s furniture and go shopping—on his list: a high-chair and stroller, clothing, toys, and all the other essentials you need to take care of a toddler.

 

Over the past seven months, Jared has taken Maya skiing and golfing—and looks forward to introducing her to other hobbies and sports.

 

“Jared will do anything to make Maya laugh,” Chrissy shared when asked what Jared is like a father.

 

Maya’s adoption was finalized in May—coincidentally on the same day as The Foundling’s Blue Party, an event hosted by The Junior Board, a committee of which Jared and Chrissy are proud members.

 

Daryn

 

There were a few things that lead Daryn, 57, to become a foster parent.

 

The single dad of two had taken a parenting class, started his own parenting group, and had gone to school to study human services. It was after an internship in a high school working with troubled kids, and hearing stories through the parenting group, that he realized the great need for foster parents — especially for male teens.

 

He also noticed that when his son was a teen, some of his friends had gone down a dangerous road, which only solidified his drive to step up. He says he noticed, “A lot of them … they don’t know how to become a young man. Nobody is showing them, nobody is teaching them how to be men.”

 

Through fostering, he says he figured, “I could give them my experiences and what I’ve learned and try to push them in that right direction so they could be responsible.”

 

Over the past 7 years, Daryn has had about 25 foster teens come through his home. He is currently fostering one teen, a 17-year-old.

 

Many of the teens who have been in and out of his home have faced many obstacles.

 

“A lot of male teens who have been in foster care … they’ve been in and out of different homes,” he says. Each home comes with its own set of issues, rules and adjustments. “That just piles into their lives.”

 

Some of the things Daryn aims to instill in these teens are structure, consistency, and positivity. “They have to understand that there is some hope at the end of this road here.”

 

And although he has raised his two biological children, who are now 27 and 30, and has been a foster parent to about two dozen teens, he says he’s constantly learning something new about parenting. “I learned how to open my mind more,” he says. Plus, he jokes, it keeps him young.

 

Daryn says the most rewarding aspect of being a foster parent is when you see them succeeding in the future, and when the teens come back to share their successes.

 

But it’s the overall experience of fostering teens that Daryn finds truly fulfilling.

 

“The foster parent and parenting thing just comes naturally to me,” Daryn says. “It feels like what I was meant to do.”

 

Learn more about fostering a child with The Foundling through our Foster Care page.

Four parents receiving services through The New York Foundling’s Deaf Services program graduated from the first Parenting Journey workshop adapted especially for the deaf community.

 

The participants, whose children ranged in age from infant to young adult, attended the once-per-week sessions over 12 weeks. During the sessions, they were able to reflect about themselves, learn new parenting skills, practice techniques such as guided meditation, and talk about how to make informed choices in raising their children.

 

Topics for the course included: Honoring Yourself, Personal Inventory, Picture My Past, Relating Parents and Children, Secrets and Fears, Honoring your Child’s Identity, Making Choices, and Setting Goals.

 

For the activities, participants shared a special object that held meaning for them, drew a picture about a significant early experience for their children, and wrote a letter to their parent and/or caregiver.

 

“I learned so much during the Parenting Journey,” says Patricia A., one of the program’s graduates. “It was a great class, (and) I definitely learned about my role.”

 

Patricia says she would recommend the course to anybody looking for or in need of the resources.

 

“I might even come with them and introduce them — definitely help to foster that relationship, because that would help them improve so much,” Patricia says. “It would be a great help. And I know if they learn about it, they would pick up so many things and improve.”