Journee, 20 years old, VA | 24 DAYS WAITING

Wish submitted by:

The Friends of Foster Care

Journee finds the right words for feelings most people can’t name, and when she reads her poetry aloud, a quiet room leans in to listen. Journee has lived through more change than most people twice her age. Removed from her home and placed into foster care, she moved between households and schools, learning to start over again and again, often with little warning and few belongings. Poetry became the one constant, a place where she could be fully heard when it felt like no one was listening. She is also the first to admit that walking into new rooms never gets easy, and that she has had to build her confidence. Journee works part-time and takes classes at her community college, and she is determined to become a social worker so another young person in foster care has an adult in their corner who truly understands. She is thoughtful, resilient, and brave enough to stand before a crowd and share her story.

Journee has moved many times throughout her life, so most of her belongings are easy to carry. A silver Pandora bracelet would be a meaningful keepsake that stays with her as she grows and reaches new milestones. She could add charms to celebrate achievements like completing her first year of classes, participating in her first poetry reading, and earning her degree. After years of starting over, this bracelet would serve as a lasting reminder of her progress, accomplishments, and the bright future she is working toward.