Dallas, 19 years old, MO

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Dallas is a young man who reentered foster care after being released when he turned 18. He had been in care since he was a little boy, alongside his older brother. While he was a senior in high school, he was unexpectedly released from care, which left him without a place to live as he finished his senior year. For the next year, Dallas found himself sleeping on friends' couches, trying to avoid living on the streets. Eventually, he stayed at his older brother's apartment for a month, but had to leave due to lease requirements. Seeking help, Dallas reached out to the Children's Division and was quickly reentered into care, where he joined a special program for older youth. Although Dallas has many needs at the moment, he is focused on one goal: to become the best version of himself and succeed in the program, so he can thrive once he ages out of care. He has now been set up in his own apartment and is working on acquiring life skills that he missed out on due to the instability he experienced in the past. Dallas dreams of attending trade school to become a motorcycle mechanic. He has already honed his skills in fixing small engines and has even found scrap pieces of motorcycles to build a minibike that he is very proud of. He loves to show it to anyone who is interested because it represents his hard work and determination. This self-built minibike is especially significant to him, as it was his only possession upon returning to care, and he treasures it greatly.

Dallas wants to complete his high school diploma and has found an online program that fits his schedule. He is currently working and needs a flexible program that accommodates his availability. He believes that if he enrolls in Penn Foster, he will work diligently and continuously until he finishes his diploma. He has promised himself that, if given the opportunity, he will complete it within two weeks. Once he earns his diploma, he plans to enroll in a trade school, but he must have his high school diploma first. Penn Foster offers an actual high school diploma, not just a GED certificate, which is very important to Dallas; he genuinely wants the diploma. He has been informed that returning to a traditional school setting would not be feasible due to his age, and he would have to wait until the fall of 2026 to enroll, as the current school year is nearing its end. The local school is entering the last quarter of the year. With the online program, he could quickly finish the remaining credits he needs.