Reaching for the stars

Written by Tamia Kerem, a member of our Young Person’s Advisory Council and former young person in care.

Can you believe that I will be commencing graduate school in September? This is an amazing opportunity for me because of my background. I came from a little island called Barbados and from a very poor family. Post secondary education has only been a dream for me but OMG — I am not dreaming anymore, even though I wake up every morning looking at my offer of admission. Why do I do this? Because I am scared, because I am in shock, because I never thought that my life could have reached this level. I think that in September it will be more real for me because I will actually be in the program. I am also scared because I’m so close to reaching my academic goals that the question becomes: What next? Where to?

Being in the care of the Children’s Aid Society has opened many doors for me including reaching for the stars. At times we have dream but are so hopeless that the dream just stay as “a dream”. I can say today that because I had a dream and because people like my lovely foster mother Peggy saw ambition in me, I persevered. At the time, my foster mother Peggy seemed annoying but it is not until now that I am a student, a mother and a wife that I comprehend everything that she did for me. I appreciate her love, thoughts, attention, care and tough love. This is the reason that I have pushed forward with all the obstacles I faced in my life.

To conclude, I am grateful to Chidren’s Aid Foundation and the Society for all the assistance they have given me in my life. Here is a poem expressing all that they have done for me:

CARING

HELPING

INVOLVED

DETERMINED TO MAKE THE BEST OF EVERY CHILD

RESPECTFUL OF DIFFERENCE

ENGAGED

NURTURING

SENSITIVE TO THE HARD SITUATIONS THEY SEE

ACTING AS THE PARENTS TO THE PARENTLESS

INTERESTED IN THE SUCCESS OF EACH CHILD IN CARE

DEDICATED TO ERADICATING CHILD ABUSE

SPECIAL PLACE TO NURTURE HIDDEN ABILITIES

OPENED TO HELP ALL.

CRITICAL THINKING REQUIRED TO NAVIGATE FUNDING FOR A JUST CAUSE

INTEGRAL PARTNER IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN

EDUCATING YOUTH IN CARE

THE VOICE OF CHILDREN IN CARE

YOUTH’S ROLE MODEL

Read another young person’s blog here.