Ashley grew up in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where adversity shaped much of her early life. Her father died when she was 6. Her mother struggled with alcoholism and past trauma, and Ashley often cared for her as drinking became normalized at home. Things became even harder during her sophomore year of high school, when Ashley lost her older sister in a hit-and-run accident.

“It felt like my life was surrounded by death,” she said. “When my sister died, it shattered my whole world. She was my peace.”

Life initially seemed stable, but as Ashley grew more independent, her foster parents became more controlling. She worked full time during high school, often until 11 p.m., yet her foster mom enforced strict curfews, installed cameras throughout the house and restricted her from cooking after long shifts. Ashley’s food stamp card was even taken from her.

When she was 18 and still attending high school, the restrictions placed on Ashley by her foster parents became unimaginable. The foster parents used tactics to control where Ashley was, her access to the home and more. Once, arriving home two minutes late for curfew, she was made to sleep in her car. The tension reached a breaking point when Ashley bought a newer car on her own rather than an older one from her foster mom for the same price. The decision triggered a sharp shift in the household, and whatever support Ashley had left quickly dissolved. Her foster mom even told the other foster children in the home not to speak with her.

“Sometimes, I just didn’t want to be there,” Ashley said.

Recognizing she needed support, Ashley entered LifeSet after a referral from her social worker. Her specialist, Kristina, immediately understood the urgency of her situation.

“For the first time, I felt like someone actually wanted to help me,” she said.

LifeSet became a turning point. With Kristina’s guidance, Ashley learned essential life skills: budgeting, setting boundaries, managing appointments and making independent decisions. She steadily began building her confidence.

“I’ve watched her come back to life,” Kristina said.

One pivotal moment occurred at Ashley’s daycare job, where she was overworked and responsible for overcrowded classrooms while still attending school. She believed she had to accept the conditions because the owner was friends with the parents of Ashley’s friend, but with Kristina’s encouragement, she realized she deserved better. Ashley submitted her two-week notice and remained firm despite pressure to stay. It was one of her first major acts of self-advocacy.

As she gained confidence, Ashley strengthened her finances, maintained steady employment and built savings. When she secured her own apartment, Youth Villages provided donated furniture. Determined to make the move on her own, she rented a U-Haul — despite never having driven one — and transported the furniture without assistance. It marked an important step toward independence.

Today, Ashley is thriving. She balances college coursework, a part-time job and long-term professional goals. Supported by close friends and grounded in her Christian faith, she approaches adulthood with optimism. Her advice to others is simple: “Advocate for yourself and surround yourself with motivated people with hopeful futures.”

Ashley’s story reflects resilience, growth and the impact of skilled, consistent support at the right time.

About Youth Villages – North Carolina

In collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, our North Carolina services focus on strengthening families to prevent or reduce the need for out-of-home placements (Intercept, MST and High Fidelity Wraparound) and supporting youth who age out of foster care or lack a stable caregiver as they transition to adulthood (LifeSet).

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