Fawnz

You have made this whole post about yourself. I made this post in order to connect to other foster kids in order to gain some aspiration and tips that would be specific to foster kids. You and everyone else here are not foster kids. In my original post I already mentioned that non-foster peers of mine cannot relate to this issue, as they are not foster kids themselves. That should have been enough for you to self evaluate how inappropriate your comments or advice would be. However, I did mention that since problems can intersect, financial advice could be beneficial...as long as it doesn't rely on parental support (obviously). I also think that sometimes foster kids can also be better at giving this advice as they would know the specific aids that help foster kids (like ECM) or grants (like Living and Learning), those are two helpful things I would mention to a crown ward if they asked me for advice. This is better advice than "just shoot for the moon"...or saying that "if you just believe you can make it". My attitude isn't wrong, I'm being realistic. I know my disadvantages (reminder this is my life, so despite what you think I do know more about it than you), and I'm trying to find a solution. If you think that is wrong...then it's you who has the wrong attitude, not me. "It was the acting like your struggle (very valid stuggle none the less) was somehow a far greater disadvantage then any other disadvantaged group out there. " I never said this, and I don't think I ever even implied it. If you got that impression, I'm don't know what to tell you, except stop reading into an imagined tone and just read what I flat out say. I made this post to reach out to people like me, because people who are not like me don't understand me. And you just perfectly illustrated my point. You came in here, judged me, and tried to give me flat advice. The fact that you think "just try harder" is solid advice just shows how ignorant you are. If it illustrates how hard I tried, I graduated high school when only 44% of my foster kid peers do, and I'm pursuing higher education, when only 2% of my foster kid peers do. Obviously foster kids deal with some unique challenges, otherwise foster kid's statistics would be equal to the general population (spoiler: they aren't). If you are going to be judgmental, I don't really have any reason to post anything about the disadvantages I face. Clearly you are ignorant to them, so it serves no purpose. You will continue to be judgemental, and you will still have no solid advice for me. And honestly you are just contradicting yourself, you criticize me for playing a "my life is so hard" card, but then you ask "if your disadvantages are so hard, please elaborate". I'm not here to be on a soap box and share my problems, I'm looking forsolutions. If you want to hear a foster kid complain about how hard their life is, why don't you kindly **** off, I'm not here for you to rub one out. And for any foster kid reading this. While I was doing some research I found about the Jim Casey Youth Initiative. It doesn't apply to me, because I'm not American, but it seems rather helpful for those who are. It can help you purchase a car, computer or other asset by matching your savings. And it can teach you some valuable lessons with financial education. You can find out more here.

The first two commenters are a perfect example of what my non-foster kid peers say. The fact of the matter is that problems sometimes intersect, in my case I have financial issues and no parents. You can either understand both issues, one issue or none at all. If you understand both issues, great you are the best person for me to ask advice. If you understand one issue, that's fine, but sometimes advice not completely apply to me. And if you don't understand either issue, I don't know why you would offer me advice at all - it's like childless couples giving advice to parents. If anyone has some great tips for financial problems, that's great. But it would also be nice to hear some advice that deals specifically with crown wards. Also...yes you kind of do have to be a foster kid to understand one. Explain in depth the problems a foster kids faces. Why does only 44% of foster kids graduate high school, compared to 88% of the general population? Why do only less than 2% of foster kids go on to higher education? Why are foster kids more likely to become homeless? What specific obstacles do they face? If you honestly don't know, then you don't really understand. And yes foster kids, and other people from disadvantaged groups can succeed, but most struggle. And those who don't have ways to combat these struggles will fail...hence why I'm asking for advice...specifically from foster kids...especially from successful foster kids because they met these struggles and somehow overcame them. If you don't understand foster kids, just don't comment at all. It's like telling a parent to quit whining about how tired she is, she should just manage her time better...when you have never had the experience of raising children. If you want to give me advice about financial stuff, fantastic, I'll be happy to hear about tips. Especially if your main source of income was financial aid, OR if you worked part time while in school full time. Hearing about financial or time management tips would be great.

I notice that a lot of millennial are having a hard time in this economy, and I am no exception. However I feel like I face unique circumstances on top of that because I am a crown ward. Some of my peers think they understand my disadvantages and try to offer me advice, but it doesn't apply to me at all because I don't rely on my parents at all...and my friends honestly can't see how much their advice depends on their parents. For example, they might have the option of living with their parents while going to school, thereby getting free room and board, so they don't have to get a job...so they can devote all their time to school and have a higher chance of passing. So if they can say something like "just go to school", but I have to worry about room and board, transportation, and how I'm going to manage working while in school. There are plenty of other advantages, that I think foster kids are more keen on.I'm just wondering if there are any crown wards out there that are attempting college/nursing. What sorts of difficulty comes your way, and how are you managing?