MaKayla Speaks: Experienced Teen on Foster Advocacy

From a young age, I always knew that God was real. It was a  fact in my concentrated, southern world. But, the extent of religion for me was Sunday school when I visited grandma, prayer before dinner, and the occasional episode of the 700 club when I should have been asleep hours before. As I got older, I grew roots in my faith that I never saw possible.

2015 was the year for me. I had recently gotten involved with a local youth group that was changing the way I viewed God. I was exposed to a community that supported and encouraged each other. I experienced bone-chilling worship that humbled me in the presence of my Lord. I heard the gospel, Jesus’ message, a story that changed my heart. I was saved.

Like any good story, just when you think everything is perfect, trials are faced. August 1, 2015, my life changed forever. This was the day I was placed Into foster care. I was uprooted and turned inside out with uncertainty. My family, My friends, My youth group, nothing was constant any more. I soon came to learn that change is the only thing promised in life. My relationship with God struggled tremendously, I doubted him and wondered how he could let all of this happen.

Luckily for me, God works wonders in the waiting, He had a plan for me that was beyond my comprehension. I soon began to build relationships in the foster care community. I had a therapist who was a warrior for my case, his sole job was to help me feel safe and to be my personal advocate. I had a whole team of warriors. I had an attorney who ruthlessly defended me, A casa worker who dug deep into my life, and caseworkers who evaluated and mediated my case. Everywhere I looked there were people rooting for my success, something I had never fully had before.

I soon began going to church again and found a new group of girls who supported and loved me. I grew stronger in the word. Before long I found my strongest advocates, my family.

I now  have a family who sees my potential and invests in that. Who selflessly sacrifices for time everyday. A dad who protects me,  A mom who keeps a kind and open heart,  A sister who accepts me so easily, and a best friend for a brother .

Everything happens for a reason. And for a long time I hated that saying. These people are my reason. Because of all the hard times I have come out where I am. Looking at my relationships with these people it feels like they were always there. If you would have asked me a year ago ,my perspective on love was skewered and damaged. I now know what it means to have unconditional love.

There are so many important people God has placed in my life. Advocates all across the board. Teachers, DHS employees, church members, figures in my community, people who have invested in my education. They have all and will continue to play a part in my success. These people helped me to achieve goals that I had set out for myself from day one. Right now I am a student at the University of Arkansas. I don't know exactly what God’s plan is, but I know that I'm called to be an advocate. I think a lot of us are called to advocacy.

When people look into the system, sometimes they only consider being a foster parent. The truth is, there are so many different ways to help. A huge factor in my success was the support I received from my classmates. They made me feel accepted and respected, despite what I was going through.

The foster care community is a big world with so many different titles, but the most important steps to proper advocacy can be taken by everyone. Be educated,  understand what the system is and be aware of how it affects your community. Be an active listener, sometimes all you need is for someone to hear you rant. And most importantly, be kind. People come from all sorts of backgrounds, but God calls ALL of us to rise above to live in community with each other.

     When people find out that I came from the foster care system, they usually want to hear about all of my challenging experiences. How I got there, what I had to go through, and how I am a survivor. Granted, these are all valid topics that have contributed into who I am today. But what shaped me even more is all of the kindness, acceptance, and guidance from all of my advocates.

*MaKayla shared this  at Amplify Christian Music Festival in August, 2018.  To learn more about foster care and adoption from foster care please explore our website:  TheCALLinArknasas.org