I was in care around 7 and discharged to BM at 13; At 16½ I immediately hit the road. Finished Senior year couch surfing, then found the diciest, roachiest apartment that rented to a minor in cash. I worked and graduated high school. I did some thing I've never discussed with anyone. I worked retail for years, sometimes two jobs, but got promoted over-and-over and eventually made good money. Met a woman--a school teacher who I eventually married. She encouraged me over and over to go to school. I did full-time, while working full-time job. Got a BS in Psychology from a pretty amazing school, then got my Master's degree from a top-tier school.

I'm now a psychotherapist in foster care, I work in the highest level of care, so children who have extensive trauma histories.

I work with a couple of older foster youth that are in college--and honestly, the support they have available is terrific. I think foster care is an awful, awful, no-win scenario today, with a few bright moments that can occasionally be found. In the 80's, foster kids were generally treated like trash, and no matter what I do in life, I am haunted by the word "trash" it's who I feel I'll always be. I've discussed this with my supervisor at work when processing countertransference--but I don't tell this to anyone else, not even my wife.

I have children of my own and I am loving, nurturing, and present with my kids always. I work with kids that have experienced a lot of pain, every day. I can't reverse the experiences I've had. I certainly can't forget them. My goal is to look myself in the mirror every night before bed, ask myself 'did you do everything you could to make someone safer?' This gives me a reputation at work as a crusader or whatever, but I don't care...