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Testimonials

Diamond Whitley

Growing up with a single mother who suffered from drug abuse and mental health issues, Diamond Whitley was determined to change her trajectory and pursue a path to a better future. Her motivation to go to college started at a young age. Even though her mother wasn’t always present, Whitley was surrounded by people who were like family and instilled in her the value of a college education. They explained how it would help break the cycle of intergenerational hardship within my family and provide an opportunity for upward social mobility.

Kenisha Anthony

At a young age, I had to deal with the harsh reality that my parents would no longer surround me, as drugs tore us apart. Through every trial and tribulation, I had to realize that I would ultimately have to save myself and strive towards independence. I was driven by the fact that, no matter how much I cried, something better was going to come so long as I kept pushing forward. Thirteen years of being relocated, constantly meeting different people and tragic experiences has ultimately formed a solid foundation for me.

Today, I stand here an ambitious and determined young woman who has recently earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University. I have been admitted to Florida International University and will begin my graduate studies this fall. It is my plan to complete a dual degree in public administration and law.

Ernst Pierre-Louis

I’m a graduate of The Florida State University and plan on attending Howard University School of Law in the fall. I’m the founder of the “Unconquered Scholars Program” at Florida State, which helps youth in foster or relative care transition into the University setting. I write music in my free time and one day would like to start a nonprofit that merges music and education as a form of self-therapy for at-risk youth (while defending their intellectual property in court!)

Breon Callins

I was placed in foster care at the age of nine and shuffled in between foster and relative care for about 4-5 years. I have four brothers, but in all that time in foster care I only got to see them once. When we were placed in HANDY (an after-care support system for foster care youth) I got my life back. The relationship with my family is still broken, but I’ve graduated from high school and completed 2 years of college. I have a beautiful daughter that I love dearly.

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