Carol, 19 years old

Wish submitted by:

Carol entered foster care after repeatedly running away from home because her parents wouldn’t accept her as part of the LGBTQ community. Home felt hostile rather than loving, and each time she escaped, she hoped to find a place where she could be herself. Instead, she ended up in foster care, moving from one home to another, which made her feel lost and disconnected. Carol uses her experiences to help young people who face similar challenges. As a peer mentor, she offers support, understanding, and encouragement to those in foster care struggling with their identity and acceptance. Having felt unwanted herself, she wants to ensure that the youths she mentors never feel alone. By sharing her story and creating safe environments, she helps them gain confidence and embrace who they are, no matter the difficulties they encounter.

Carol has her heart set on a purple Coach purse for her birthday this year. Purple has always been her favorite color—it makes her feel bold, confident, and uniquely herself. Plus, she’s in need of a new purse, and a Coach bag would be the perfect mix of style, durability, and a little luxury. She’s been using the same worn-out bag for years, and it’s starting to fall apart. A new purse would be practical and feel like a small celebration of how far she’s come. After everything she’s been through with her family and being in foster care, she wants to have something special that reminds her that she deserves nice things.