Tina’s story is one of community and being in the right places at the right time—or as Tina would say— miracles. After being removed from her mother’s home at the age of 16, Tina was placed in a group home. The structure became too much for her and she ran away. For a period of time, she lived on the street, couch surfing with former schoolmates, and in a house where she feared she would be trafficked. She was able to escape and luckily ran into her boyfriend’s sister who took her to their parent’s house. There she was caught hiding in his closet by a man who showed her kindness and convinced her to return to foster care. Tina was placed with a kind family in a Christian community. It was here she created close bonds and a strong sense of self that propelled her to success. As an adult, Tina is learning to help others through their trauma by becoming a certified trauma recovery coach. She is now married and has two children. She wants to encourage people who experienced foster care that hope is real and it is never too late to ask for help. She hopes to see more programs for people transitioning out of foster care as people did out of the kindness of their hearts when she aged out. She hopes her story can be one that reminds others that everything happens for a reason and that you can be successful in life and love regardless of where you came from.   If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at <a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com">agedoutproject@gmail.com</a>! You deserve to be heard.   Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!   Credits: ·       Interviewee: Tina Rodriquez Chew ·       Interviewers: Eleanor Pelham and Ryan Richmond ·       Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi ·       Editing Team: Eleanor Pelham and Brooke Sutter ·       Music Credit: o   Nostalgia by Tobu <a href= "https://soundcloud.com/7obu">https://soundcloud.com/7obu</a> o   Music Promoted by Audio Library <a href= "https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU">https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU</a>   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"&gt;Tina’s story is one of community and being in the right places at the right time—or as Tina would say— miracles. After being removed from her mother’s home at the age of 16, Tina was placed in a group home. The structure became too much for her and she ran away. For a period of time, she lived on the street, couch surfing with former schoolmates, and in a house where she feared she would be trafficked. She was able to escape and luckily ran into her boyfriend’s sister who took her to their parent’s house. There she was caught hiding in his closet by a man who showed her kindness and convinced her to return to foster care. Tina was placed with a kind family in a Christian community. It was here she created close bonds and a strong sense of self that propelled her to success.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"&gt;As an adult, Tina is learning to help others through their trauma by becoming a certified trauma recovery coach. She is now married and has two children. She wants to encourage people who experienced foster care that hope is real and it is never too late to ask for help. She hopes to see more programs for people transitioning out of foster care as people did out of the kindness of their hearts when she aged out. She hopes her story can be one that reminds others that everything happens for a reason and that you can be successful in life and love regardless of where you came from.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at &lt;a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;span style= "color: #1155cc;"&gt;agedoutproject@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;! You deserve to be heard.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Credits:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Interviewee: Tina Rodriquez Chew&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Interviewers: Eleanor Pelham and Ryan Richmond&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Editing Team: Eleanor Pelham and Brooke Sutter&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;      &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Music Credit:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style= "margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-pagination: none; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;o&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Nostalgia by Tobu &lt;a href= "https://soundcloud.com/7obu"&gt;&lt;span style= "color: #1155cc;"&gt;https://soundcloud.com/7obu&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style= "margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-pagination: none; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;o&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Music Promoted by Audio Library &lt;a href= "https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU"&gt;&lt;span style= "color: #1155cc;"&gt;https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Tina’s story is one of community and being in the right places at the right time—or as Tina would say— miracles. After being removed from her mother’s home at the age of 16, Tina was placed in a group home. The structure became too much for...

Tina: Community Saves

Rob Scheer shares his inspirational, full circle journey in this can't-miss episode. Rob experienced the foster care system as a youth, and is now a dedicated advocate for other youth in care, a veteran, a husband, a father of children previously in care, an author, a podcast host, and the founder of an impactful non-profit, Comfort Cases. Rob shares his personal insights into the foster care system and how his lived experiences guide the work he does today. Drawing on his experiences as a child who had to carry around a trash bag full of belongings from placement to placement, one of Rob's missions is to ensure that no foster child lives out of trash bag—he achieves this mission through the non-profit that he founded, Comfort Cases.  Rob's episode is sure to inspire all who listen! If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at <a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com">agedoutproject@gmail.com</a>! You deserve to be heard. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter! Credits: •    Interviewee: Rob Scheer •    Interviewers: Professor Diane Sumoski •    Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi •    Editing Team: Brooke Sutter •    Music Credit: <ul> <li>Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu</li> <li>Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU</li> </ul> The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Rob Scheer shares his inspirational, full circle journey in this can't-miss episode. Rob experienced the foster care system as a youth, and is now a dedicated advocate for other youth in care, a veteran, a husband, a father of children previously in care, an author, a podcast host, and the founder of an impactful non-profit, Comfort Cases.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Rob shares his personal insights into the foster care system and how his lived experiences guide the work he does today. Drawing on his experiences as a child who had to carry around a trash bag full of belongings from placement to placement, one of Rob's missions is to ensure that no foster child lives out of trash bag—he achieves this mission through the non-profit that he founded, Comfort Cases. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Rob's episode is sure to inspire all who listen!&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at &lt;a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;span style= "color: #1155cc;"&gt;agedoutproject@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;! You deserve to be heard.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Credits:&lt;br /&gt; •    Interviewee: Rob Scheer&lt;br /&gt; •    Interviewers: Professor Diane Sumoski&lt;br /&gt; •    Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi&lt;br /&gt; •    Editing Team: Brooke Sutter&lt;br /&gt; •    Music Credit:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Rob Scheer shares his inspirational, full circle journey in this can't-miss episode. Rob experienced the foster care system as a youth, and is now a dedicated advocate for other youth in care, a veteran, a husband, a father of children previously in...

Rob Scheer: Foster Care to Founder

Bob’s story is one of resilience and regaining control. Bob first came to America from Ukraine at the age of 5. He was adopted into a family who subjected him to horrible treatment, until finally at the age of 12 he entered the foster care system. Bob went from placement to placement until he was adopted by his third placement. However, after being adopted, the relationship between Bob and his adoptive family crumbled. For many years, Bob had hardly any sense of control over his own life. He was told where to go, how to act, and who he was as a person. He even found out that his birthday had been changed by his first adoptive family. His whole identity had been determined by the foster care system and those involved in it. As an adult, Bob is courageously embracing his past trauma and taking back the control of his life that the system took from him. He wants his story of overcoming adversity to inspire others who may be facing similar circumstances. He wants foster youth to know that they are not the “Property of Texas,” but are instead worthy, intelligent, brave individuals capable of succeeding and deserving of love. He wants youth in the foster care system and those who have aged out to know that it’s never too late to take control of your story. If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at <a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com">agedoutproject@gmail.com</a>! You deserve to be heard.   Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!   Credits: ·      Interviewee: Bob ·      Interviewers: Lauren Ferrie and Brooke Sutter ·      Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi ·      Editing Team: Alexis Young, Lauren Ferrie, Brooke Sutter ·      Music Credit: o   Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu o   Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Bob’s story is one of resilience and regaining control. Bob first came to America from Ukraine at the age of 5. He was adopted into a family who subjected him to horrible treatment, until finally at the age of 12 he entered the foster care system. Bob went from placement to placement until he was adopted by his third placement. However, after being adopted, the relationship between Bob and his adoptive family crumbled. For many years, Bob had hardly any sense of control over his own life. He was told where to go, how to act, and who he was as a person. He even found out that his birthday had been changed by his first adoptive family. His whole identity had been determined by the foster care system and those involved in it.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;As an adult, Bob is courageously embracing his past trauma and taking back the control of his life that the system took from him. He wants his story of overcoming adversity to inspire others who may be facing similar circumstances. He wants foster youth to know that they are not the “Property of Texas,” but are instead worthy, intelligent, brave individuals capable of succeeding and deserving of love. He wants youth in the foster care system and those who have aged out to know that it’s never too late to take control of your story.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at &lt;a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;span style= "color: #1155cc;"&gt;agedoutproject@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;! You deserve to be heard.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Credits:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-pagination: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Interviewee: Bob&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-pagination: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Interviewers: Lauren Ferrie and Brooke Sutter&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-pagination: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-pagination: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Editing Team: Alexis Young, Lauren Ferrie, Brooke Sutter&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style= "text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; mso-pagination: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Music Credit:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style= "margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;o&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style= "margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;o&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description>

Bob’s story is one of resilience and regaining control. Bob first came to America from Ukraine at the age of 5. He was adopted into a family who subjected him to horrible treatment, until finally at the age of 12 he entered the foster care system....

Bob: Not the "Property of Texas"

Before graduating with her associate degree, to now working with patients with dementia and suicidality, Candace was teenager navigating her life in the foster care system. Faced with the hardship and heartbreak of being left by her biological family, Candace found hope in the system after being placed with a foster family who showed her unconditional love, support, and the unbreakable bond of family. This went on to change her life and the outlook she had on the system.    In the face of adversity, Candace found her voice in the world and used the obstacles she faced as fuel to become the person she needed when she was younger and the person she always aspired to be. Today, Candace stands as role model and advocate for those within the foster care system, demonstrating that sometimes the trials and tribulations do not happen to us, but for us.  Tune in as we delve into Candace’s inspiring journey – a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of finding your purpose in life.  If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at <a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com">agedoutproject@gmail.com</a>! You deserve to be heard.  Follow us on Instagram and Twitter! Credits: •           Interviewee: Candace Henry •           Interviewers: Mia Alvarez and Sara Saeed •           Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi •           Editing Team: Mia Alvarez and Sara Saeed •           Music Credit: o   Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu o   Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU          The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Before graduating with her associate degree, to now working with patients with dementia and suicidality, Candace was teenager navigating her life in the foster care system. Faced with the hardship and heartbreak of being left by her biological family, Candace found hope in the system after being placed with a foster family who showed her unconditional love, support, and the unbreakable bond of family. This went on to change her life and the outlook she had on the system. &lt;span style= "mso-spacerun: yes;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;In the face of adversity, Candace found her voice in the world and used the obstacles she faced as fuel to become the person she needed when she was younger and the person she always aspired to be. Today, Candace stands as role model and advocate for those within the foster care system, demonstrating that sometimes the trials and tribulations do not happen to us, but for us. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Tune in as we delve into Candace’s inspiring journey – a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of finding your purpose in life. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at&lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;agedoutproject@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;! You deserve to be heard.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Credits:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;•&lt;span style= "mso-tab-count: 1;"&gt;          &lt;/span&gt; Interviewee: Candace Henry&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;•&lt;span style= "mso-tab-count: 1;"&gt;          &lt;/span&gt; Interviewers: Mia Alvarez and Sara Saeed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;•&lt;span style= "mso-tab-count: 1;"&gt;          &lt;/span&gt; Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;•&lt;span style= "mso-tab-count: 1;"&gt;          &lt;/span&gt; Editing Team: Mia Alvarez and Sara Saeed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;•&lt;span style= "mso-tab-count: 1;"&gt;          &lt;/span&gt; Music Credit:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style= "margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;o&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style= "margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;o&lt;span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-tab-count: 1;"&gt;         &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt;The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Before graduating with her associate degree, to now working with patients with dementia and suicidality, Candace was teenager navigating her life in the foster care system. Faced with the hardship and heartbreak of being left by her biological family,...

Candace: It Didn't Happen to You, It Happened for You

Before finding his place in the world, Ryan faced unimaginable hardships. Raised in an unstable environment, his early years were marked by turmoil, as he grappled with his identity amidst the backdrop of foster care. But adolescence had an unexpected twist in store for him. Faced with a life-altering decision, Ryan had mere minutes to choose between living with his aunt and uncle or remaining in foster care. The weight of this decision hung heavily over him, even today Ryan considers how this decision had the power to redefine his entire future. In the face of adversity, Ryan found the strength to not only survive but to thrive. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the military, earned a college degree in psychology, and set out to help children navigating circumstances similar to his own. Today, Ryan stands as a beacon of hope and an advocate for those in need, working at a child placement agency to make a difference in the lives of countless youth. Tune in as we delve into Ryan's incredible journey – a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of making a positive impact on the world.   If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at <a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com">agedoutproject@gmail.com</a>! You deserve to be heard. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter! Credits: <ul> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> Interviewee: Ryan Harris</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Interviewers: Isabela Possino and Annie Taylor</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> Editing Team: Kaci Jones & Caleb Beaman</li> </ul> Music Credits <ul> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Nostalgia by Tobu <a href= "https://soundcloud.com/7obu">https://soundcloud.com/7obu</a></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Music Promoted by Audio Library <a href= "https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU">https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU</a></li> </ul> The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Before finding his place in the world, Ryan faced unimaginable hardships. Raised in an unstable environment, his early years were marked by turmoil, as he grappled with his identity amidst the backdrop of foster care. But adolescence had an unexpected twist in store for him. Faced with a life-altering decision, Ryan had mere minutes to choose between living with his aunt and uncle or remaining in foster care. The weight of this decision hung heavily over him, even today Ryan considers how this decision had the power to redefine his entire future.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;In the face of adversity, Ryan found the strength to not only survive but to thrive. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the military, earned a college degree in psychology, and set out to help children navigating circumstances similar to his own. Today, Ryan stands as a beacon of hope and an advocate for those in need, working at a child placement agency to make a difference in the lives of countless youth.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Tune in as we delve into Ryan's incredible journey – a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of making a positive impact on the world.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at &lt;a href= "mailto:agedoutproject@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;span style= "color: #1155cc;"&gt;agedoutproject@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;! You deserve to be heard.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Follow us on Instagram and Twitter!&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Credits:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;Interviewee: Ryan Harris&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Interviewers: Isabela Possino and Annie Taylor&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;Editing Team: Kaci Jones &amp; Caleb Beaman&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;Music Credits&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Nostalgia by Tobu &lt;span style="color: #1155cc;"&gt;&lt;a href= "https://soundcloud.com/7obu"&gt;https://soundcloud.com/7obu&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;Music Promoted by Audio Library &lt;a href= "https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #1155cc;"&gt;https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Before finding his place in the world, Ryan faced unimaginable hardships. Raised in an unstable environment, his early years were marked by turmoil, as he grappled with his identity amidst the backdrop of foster care. But adolescence had an unexpected...

Ryan: A Story of Survival and Self-Discovery

A podcast by the SMU Child Advocacy Clinic created to raise awareness regarding the child welfare system while giving youth who aged out a voice to transform it

If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at agedoutproject@gmail.com! You deserve to be heard.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation

Aged Out: The Stories that Built Us

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