AJ, 17 years old, CT | NEEDED BY 02/06

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AJ's journey through foster care has been marked by her fierce independence and her gradual learning that it's okay to embrace softer, more nurturing parts of herself. For years, she's built walls to protect her heart, but lately, she's been discovering that self-love and self-care aren't weaknesses; they're acts of courage. At her residential program, AJ is known for her leadership qualities and her protective nature toward younger girls who remind her of herself at that age. She's learning that loving herself first is what will allow her to truly love and support others. What makes AJ special is her evolving understanding that strength and softness can coexist, and her dream is to one day feel completely comfortable in her own skin, knowing she is worthy of love and comfort.

AJ's journey through foster care has been marked by her fierce independence and her gradual learning that it's okay to embrace softer, more nurturing parts of herself. For years, she's built walls to protect her heart, but lately, she's been discovering that self-love and self-care aren't weaknesses; they're acts of courage. At her residential program, AJ is known for her leadership qualities and her protective nature toward younger girls who remind her of herself at that age. She's learning that loving herself first is what will allow her to truly love and support others. Valentine's Day has always been hard for AJ, a reminder of love she felt she didn't deserve or hadn't experienced consistently. But this year, she's working on rewriting that narrative, understanding that the most important love story is the one she writes with herself. What makes AJ special is her evolving understanding that strength and softness can coexist, and her dream is to one day feel completely comfortable in her own skin, knowing she is worthy of love and comfort.