Aaraya is a proud social worker and graduate of Western Carolina University. However, as a youth who experienced foster care, Aaraya’s journey was anything but easy. She endured hardships and struggles faced by many young people navigating the child welfare system.

Aaraya’s early years were marked by trauma. Her mother battled mental illness and substance abuse that created a rough home environment. One pivotal moment came when Aaraya suffered physical abuse from her mother for not consoling her baby sister who was crying. Shortly after, Aaraya was sent to live with her grandmother, but things did not get easier.

At her grandmother’s home, she endured strict rules and lacked basic care. She had to ask permission to shower and was often denied for weeks. Food was locked away, leaving school as her only source of regular meals.

At just 11 years old, she became the primary caregiver for her younger siblings due to the neglect of her grandmother and had to miss school to care for them. As a result, Aaraya had excessive school absences that were reported and triggered her entry into the foster care system.

Foster care brought a mix of emotions. Aaraya experienced genuine care and support from her foster parents, but she also faced a painful rejection. Her foster parents adopted her younger sisters, but not her. While that decision was made so she could continue receiving financial assistance through the system, it left her feeling unwanted and alone.

“I needed consistent support that I just couldn’t seem to find anywhere,” Aaraya said.

In college, Aaraya initially pursued interior design. During an architecture class, she found a new inspiration. She envisioned herself building a tiny home community for youth aging out of foster care, with programs to help them transition into adulthood. That dream became the seed that led her to social work.

Aaraya’s social worker recommended she attend a listening session with peers, where she was introduced to Youth Villages and learned about the LifeSet program. After spending time in the program, she joined the LifeSet Scholars program. Scholars is an extension of LifeSet that provides support for young adults seeking secondary education or vocational opportunities. It was perfect timing as her financial resources were running out.

The Scholars program quickly became a lifeline. Her specialists, Jack and Kathleen, helped her set meaningful goals she could accomplish. They connected her to resources and introduced her to a mentor, Brianna. One act of kindness she’ll never forget was when Kathleen surprised her with a brand-new laptop — unaware that Aaraya’s had just crashed that morning.

During her final semester, Aaraya was required to complete an unpaid internship. The stipend from LifeSet Scholars helped cover essential expenses such as gas, clothing and other necessities. Aaraya, however, faced a major disruption during Hurricane Helene, which affected her ability to complete the required internshiphours. Fortunately, her specialist once again stepped in to help, connecting her with other opportunities to keep her on track.

Today, Aaraya is a dedicated social worker who wakes up each day with the purpose of helping others in need. Her path into the profession was shaped by her lived experiences and a deep desire to ensure no young person feels as unsupported as she once did.

“Youth and young adults like me need support when times are tough,” Aaraya said. “It really does make a difference to help us in foster care grow stronger and ignite belief in our own potential.”

Share on Social