An Interview with Nazly
Written by: Hannah Adkison
Kids all over the United States are walking stages this month. Whether it’s a kindergarten ceremony or a university graduation, May often marks progress, success, and the fruit of perseverance for students everywhere. For many foster youth, though, living out that dream is just that— a dream. Without the proper supports, education, caring home, or navigational tools, the push to just graduate high school can feel insurmountable. Our Foster Family Agency, Youth Connected Program, was created with this in mind. We are passionate about providing what each child needs to succeed: a loving, attentive home, involvement in sports or extracurriculars, teachers who care, independent living skills, and more.
Today I have the honor of sharing the unique story of YCP’s first high school graduate: Nazly. I’ll be pulling from a conversation we filmed with her in January 2025, 8 months after she graduated high school and became a first generation college student. We are so indescribably proud of her and all she has accomplished in her life, and I hope you feel inspired by her wisdom, determination, and vulnerability!
Hi Naz! Big first question: what do you think your greatest accomplishment in life has been so far?
“My greatest accomplishment in life is graduating high school and going to college…I’m the first person in my family to go to college…I’m proud of that because I never really thought that I was actually going to go. I was…going to go into the military instead… Back then I didn’t really know the opportunities [I had]. But then, I met my foster dad. He really showed me that life is not easy for everyone, but you have to push through it, and you can’t go for the easy stuff. So that really got me thinking, and I decided to go to college and put in the work.
Right now, I’m in community college, trying to get a business degree. I’m looking into mechanics because cars really catch my eye…so I might want to open a business with cars.“
That is amazing! How does where you’re at now make you feel?
“It makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I really worked through it and no matter what life threw at me, I’m still able to do it and work hard at it.”
Can you tell me a little bit about why school was difficult for you?
“The reason why I didn’t like school before is because I never really…stayed in one school, or got the help I needed. I do need a lot of help in school. And I was moving around to many schools, and I did not find the point in going to school… I was more of the kid at the back not asking for help because I was shy.
But then [my foster dad] helped me. I felt comfortable asking for help and he really knew what I needed. Not a lot of people have given me the help that I needed in school, or life in general. I always found a way to do it myself, but then he came into my life and…he showed me that I’m not alone. That I don’t have to just rely on myself, I can rely on other people. He helped me to speak up and get what I need.”
You have two younger sisters. How did your time at YCP help all of you?
“At first, we were going to be separated but then someone came out of nowhere and talked to me about [YCP]. I found it very interesting, and I wanted to give it a try. I convinced my sisters to come with me! My sisters made me enjoy school. What really worked for me is that I was with my sisters during the week [in the dorms and at school] and I got to see what they accomplished. Then during the weekends we would be in different homes, but it was only for a few days.”
Tell me a favorite memory you have at YCP.
“My favorite memory is getting to know the staff. The staff are really nice, I can talk to them when I think they are doing something wrong and they are open to it. Going on field trips with the other kids— that is one of my favorite memories, because I got to know that other people are going through things, too. And I got to help them and be there for them to show them that they are not alone.”
Nazly and her foster parent, Anthony.
What makes you feel safe with your foster parent?
“He’s really there for me when I need his help and he tries his best to make it feel like home, and I see that. He’s someone that I can go to when I have my doubts. He really showed me how a parent figure is – he earned the title of being my dad. He really tries his best to help us and be there, even though when he’s at work he gets busy, he always checks up on us. I can always compromise with him when I have my plans, and he has his plans. He is just someone I can trust in my life and there really is very few people in my life I can trust because of the stuff I have been through. He includes me in his family and his family is the best.”
Thank you so much for sharing with me today. As our last question, what would you tell people thinking of becoming foster parents?
“I would say just do it—give it a try, you really don’t know how a kid is gonna be because of a trauma they’ve been through, but it feels good to help other people and teach them that there [are] people who they can trust and not be alone.”
As Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close, so does a month spent celebrating the incredible stories of resilience and courage found throughout those with lived experience in foster care, and those in their communities who have come alongside them. Here at YCP, we launched a series of new videos, highlighting our foster parent experiences in hopes that more people like them would step into this journey with us. Check it out here and share it with your loved ones!
For more information on how to support kids like Nazly on their journey in foster care, please reach out to us at ycp@orangewoodfoundation.org or fill out an inquiry form HERE.