From Paulina:"I first entered the foster care system at the age of 15. During my adolescence years, I was ashamed to be considered a foster kid. I kept it on the down low. I didn't want anyone to know I came from a dysfunctional family, I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't normal. I would get embarrassed when someone from the streets would ask about a family member of mine when I was around my friends. I didn't want people to think I associated with people from the streets, I didn't want people to think I was the one who had substance abuse. I had a lot of friends, but i didn't tell anyone. When I first entered the system, I kept my home life very private. I didn't want anyone knowing I was in the system, I didn't want anyone knowing I met with a social worker, I didn't want anyone to know the reason why I didn't go to class that day, was because I had to go to court. The most challenging part of being in the foster care system, I would say is juggling private and social life. I am not going to lie, I had a big ego in my adolescence years, but I feel like the majority of us did. High school is when we are seeking our identity, we build and present ourselves as our best self. The most challenging part was faking that I was normal. Faking that everything was okay, when really I was going through a big change, a big chapter in my life. Instead of embracing being a foster kid and empowering others, I hid who I really was"