From Jahlika:"I was in foster care since the age of 15, enduring years of mental and domestic abuse from the hands of people who were suppose to love and care for me. It was hard but being in in the foster care system had its own difficulties, but I overcame them and set goals to not let my past determine my future. Not only did I exceed my expectations of just getting a job and finishing high school, but I also went to college and graduated with my Associate degree; I am a foster care advocate and speak on the struggles of being in care as well as after discharge; I speak with congress members, agencies, and at galas; and now while working and living on my own I am pursing my Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Psychology."