Student Spotlight: Rose’s Journey to Independence and Empowerment

At AcademySTAY, we celebrate the resilience and ambition of each young person we serve. Today we shine the Student Spotlight on Rose, whose journey from the foster care system to pursuing her dream in cosmetology reminds us why our work matters (and why community support changes lives).

Rose has always loved participating in group sports

Finding Stability After Loss

Rose’s path has not been easy. Between group homes, living with relatives, and coping with her grandmother’s passing, she found herself “all over the place, foster homes, group homes, living with family, and after my grandma passed away everything started going downhill.” Yet when she arrived at AcademySTAY, everything changed.

“I don’t really have anything to worry about, and I know going back to school is going to help me better my future,” Rose shares.

It is at moments like these—when basic stability meets possibility—that AcademySTAY’s impact becomes crystal clear. Our housing program offers a safe roof and the reassurance that a young person’s next step won’t be homelessness but hope.

Education as a Launchpad

For Rose, returning to the classroom was transformative. Shortly after turning eighteen and moving into her first independent apartment, she decided to finish high school.

“I graduated last year. It was late, but I still did it. It’s better to have a diploma than not,” she explains with pride.

Now Rose is gearing up for cosmetology school (her true passion since childhood).

“My goal is to start cosmetology school. I want to be stable when I leave here, so I’m saving up and planning ahead,” she says.

Through AcademySTAY’s life-skills workshops, resume support, and ongoing mentorship, Rose is laying the foundation for a career that combines creativity with financial independence.

Empowered by Community

Life-skills classes have been a game-changer for Rose.

“Every week a new expert comes in to teach something about your future, tools I never had before,” she notes.

From budgeting basics to interviewing tips, these sessions fill knowledge gaps too often ignored in the foster system (gaps that can determine whether a young person thrives or struggles after emancipation). Rose also highlights the emotional lift of living among peers and caring adults who genuinely believe in her potential.

“After my grandma passed I did too much doubting myself; now all I can do is better myself and build a stronger future,” she says.

That shift - from self-doubt to self-determination - is at the heart of our mission.

A Message to Fellow Youth

To other young people who feel stuck at the threshold of independence, Rose offers this encouragement:

“You just have to think about the positive things. It may not seem like it in the system, but once you age out, you get so many more opportunities.”

Her words remind us that with the right supports (housing, education, mentorship), every young adult can transform adversity into a launchpad for success.

How You Can Help

Rose’s story is one of many. AcademySTAY relies on donations of time, talent, and resources to keep life-changing programs running. Here’s how you can make a difference:

1. Donate: your gift provides housing stipends, life-skills workshops, and education grants.

2. Volunteer: from guest-speaking in life-skills classes to one-on-one mentoring, your expertise empowers our students.

Together we can ensure that every young person (like Rose) has the stability, encouragement, and opportunities they need to flourish.