More than 70 young adults with experience in the foster care system in Middle Tennessee gathered to celebrate graduations ranging from HiSET (high school equivalency) certificates to post-secondary degrees.

Though many of the graduates’ paths were marked by instability, navigating multiple schools, homes, and the weight of personal trauma, the event was joyful and inspiring, featuring speakers who had also been in foster care.

“We don’t just carry backpacks; we carry trauma, questions and pieces of a childhood we’re still trying to make sense of,” said Paris, keynote speaker and student at Tennessee State University. “And yet, we still get up, show up, and turn in assignments. We still study with heavy hearts, and we still dare to dream. I want every young person who has ever felt like they weren’t good enough because of their background to hear me clearly: You are not broken. You are not less than. You are not alone. And you are not what happened to you.”

Without support, young people who age out of the foster care system are less likely to complete their education, less likely to earn a living wage and more likely to be homeless. But with comprehensive services like those provided by the LifeSet program at Youth Villages, those outcomes drastically improve.

As the graduates crossed the stage, the announcer shared everyone’s goals for their future. Many plan to pursue careers in education, social work and the trades; some are less specific in their career plans but know they want to own a home and build stable lives.

All the graduates got a kickstart on independent living by receiving new shoes, a backpack and a new suitcase full of essential household items such as toiletries, kitchenware and cleaning supplies. A support fair also ensured the young adults connected with more resources to help them succeed as they move to their next phase of life. Hosting organizations focused on affordable housing, continued education options, job placement services and more.

“Many of these young people don’t have family to celebrate them,” said Breanna Steward-Fason, LifeSet specialist at Youth Villages. “We have been by their sides along the way, helping them navigate barriers and stay focused. It’s important to take a moment to acknowledge their accomplishments and make them feel really special.”

Three lucky individuals even drove home in new cars from Church of the City’s CARS ministry.

The event was held at Church of the City in Franklin, Tennessee, hosted by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Youth Villages and the Tennessee Alliance for Kids and with financial support from Jackson, the Tennessee Valley Authority and United Way of Maury County.

To invest in the futures of young people in the LifeSet program, give here.

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