Not every college student begins their journey from a place of stability. For one of our recent high school graduates, the journey to college began while experiencing homelessness and living in our residential program for young adults. Today, we get to celebrate something truly remarkable, he is moving into his dorm at Fresno State University.
This isn’t just a move into a college dorm. It’s a milestone. A young person who faced circumstances that could have easily disrupted his education, his dreams, and his future, but chose to keep moving forward.
For young people who have experienced foster care, the path to higher education can be especially difficult. Research from the CalYOUTH study found that by age 23, only 3.6 percent of California foster youth had completed a four year college degree. So when we see a young person who has experienced homelessness, navigated significant adversity, graduated from high school, been accepted to a four year university and now steps into a college dorm room, we should stop and recognize what we’re witnessing.
This is perseverance. This is resilience. This is hope in action.
A reminder that a young person’s circumstances do not define their potential.
Homelessness doesn’t have a face. Sometimes it looks like a young person sleeping in a shelter. Sometimes it looks like a young person living in a residential program. But sometimes, homelessness looks like restoration in a college freshman carrying boxes into their dorm room and preparing for their first day at a university.
Francisco, our Director of Youth Services [pictured right of student], has walked alongside this young man throughout his journey. “We are proud of you, and we can’t wait to see where you go from here,” he shared.
Today, we celebrate this young man, not because of what he has overcome alone, but because of where he is going. Congratulations on this incredible next chapter. Fresno State, you’ve got a great one coming your way!
Every young person who walks through our doors carries a story still being written. Your support through giving, volunteering or simply cheering them on helps write the next chapter for someone just like him. If you’d like to help a young person take their next step forward, reach out to April Latham at volunteer@fresnomission.org or make a donation today!
