Nae, 15 years old, CT | 1 DAY WAITING | NEEDED BY 02/06

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Nae's time in foster care has been a journey of finding her identity and learning to value herself independent of others' opinions or treatment. She's a thoughtful, observant young woman who's discovering her own worth and learning to set boundaries that protect her peace. At her residential program, Nae is known for her quiet strength and her evolution from people-pleasing to authentic self-expression. She's working on prioritizing her own needs and understanding that self-care isn't selfish; it's survival. What makes Nae special is her courage to change patterns that no longer serve her and her commitment to building a relationship with herself based on respect and care, and her dream is to never again settle for less than she deserves, in love or in life, because she knows her own worth.

Nae's request for Valentine's pajamas reflects her journey toward prioritizing her own needs and treating herself with care. Having special pajamas for Valentine's Day is a concrete way for her to practice putting herself first and celebrating her own worth. She'll wear these to a Galentines party. For young women with histories of sex trafficking who were conditioned to prioritize everyone else's needs and ignore their own, this party is transformative healing; it teaches them that their needs matter, their comfort counts, and they deserve to be cherished. Comfortable sleepwear represents a basic act of self-care that reinforces she deserves comfort and that her needs matter. The Valentine's theme challenges her old patterns of focusing on others at her own expense, redirecting that love and attention inward. These pajamas become a symbol of her evolving self-worth, a daily reminder that she deserves to be treated well, starting with how she treats herself.