This Foster Care Awareness Month, we celebrate the potential of young people who are rewriting the narrative of what’s possible after foster care. One of those young people is Yuki—a college student, aspiring nurse, and devoted mom who shared her inspiring story at our recent Strolling Dinner.

Yuki has always had a vision for her future and never lost sight of her goals. After entering foster care at age 12, she navigated each new environment by adapting, learning, and staying focused on what she wanted for herself and one day, her family. That future began to take shape when she connected with First Place for Youth.

“First Place has given me the tools and support to build a strong foundation,” Yuki shared to a room of supporters at our Strolling Dinner. “They’ve helped me learn how to manage my finances, navigate school, and prepare for a career—and also to make space for joy, which I didn’t always get to experience growing up.”

Today, Yuki is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Economics at San Francisco State University and plans to apply to nursing school next year. She dreams of building a career where she can care for others while modeling strength, resilience, and self-love for her daughter.

“As a mom, I want my daughter to have a childhood that’s safe and stable,” she said. “I want her to ride bikes, take swimming lessons, and feel proud of who she is. That means taking care of myself, too, so I can be there for her in every way.”

Every year, nearly 20,000 young people age out of foster care in the U.S. without permanent family connections. But with access to stable housing, education, career support, and caring adult relationships, young people like Yuki are thriving and leading the way for others.

Yuki describes herself as “a rose growing out of the concrete,” echoing the words of poet Tupac Shakur. It’s a powerful image, but even more powerful is the community that shows up to help flowers like Yuki bloom.

This Foster Care Awareness Month, we invite you to be part of the community that uplifts and believes in young people like Yuki. At First Place for Youth, we believe that foster youth deserve to be seen for who they are: leaders, scholars, innovators, and changemakers. Your support is an investment in futures, dreams, and in a more just world—one where every young person has the foundation to thrive. Together, we can ensure that every rose has the chance to bloom.

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