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"I glanced down at the
hundreds of pulsing moon jellies to the right, then thousands more to the left,
an endless gaggle of fringed, see-through flowers packed so tightly together
they changed the texture and color of the bay in the silvery glare of the
forgotten sun." (Lynch
)
My life
can best be reflected like the quote stated by the
author Jim Lynch in his “A Young Boy Betrays the Sea
He Loves So Much,” I can relate to one of those
pulsing moon jellies who have been going with the flow
of the water to seek guidance throughout rites of
passages (“changed texture and color of the bay”)
and a sense of direction to reach the purpose of my
life (“silvery glare of the forgotten sun”).
For many of us, emancipating from the foster
care system means “leaving home again.” I left
home three times over again.
In 1985 I migrated into the
United States
with my biological family from
Michoacan
,
Mexico
. Leaving
behind a family that consists of gang affiliation,
alcoholics and drug dependants and coming into another
world with a family member with the same sickness that
is of my biological mother.
In
1986 I was detained and placed into protective custody
by the DCFS with no knowledge of the English language
and physical handicaps (hard of hearing).
I felt as if I was being kidnapped in a foreign
country and placed in a home resenting it, and would
question ‘Why am I paying for a crime that I did not
commit?’ My anger built into my determination that I
was not to fall into the doors of escapism, and became
my drive to confront life with the determination to
become someone no matter what the cost.
In 1996 I graduated from High School and was honored in the
Celebration I 1996 event only to reach homelessness
and emancipated out of foster care.
Besides DCFS, the Youth Development Services
Division and ILP has been my only family support and
has given me many opportunities where I grew,
prospered and became a productive Citizen.
During this time I became involved with DCFS
and began working as a Community Worker in the
Antelope
Valley
assisting youth to emancipate out of foster care into
becoming self-sufficient citizens of society and I am
proud to announce that I have been a part of the ILP
family for almost 12 years now.
In
August 2001 I was reborn as a Naturalized Citizen of
the
United States of America
. I served
office as the Los Angeles County Youth Representative
with the Children’s Planning Council in
collaboration with the Board of Supervisors.
I
was honored as the “Si Se Puede” Leader of the
Year 2007 in honor of Cesar Chavez
by the Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce for overcoming great obstacles and for
advocating as an effort to alleviate the social
injustices among foster and probation youth.
I was also honored as the Exemplary Alumnus of the
Archdioceses Youth Employment (AYE) Program and other
important public officials such as Mayor Antonio
Villarraigosa and the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors in September 2008.
I graduated from Southern California Counseling Center
(SCCC) and received a certificate in Community Gang
Counseling in November 2007.
I also graduated in August 2008 from the
University
of
Phoenix
and earned a Bachelors Science degree in Human
Services and I am currently enrolled in the Masters
program in Business Administration with a double
specialty on Human Resources Management and Public
Administration (MBA/HRM/PA) and I am targeted to
graduate in June 2010.
I am currently exploring my options for career
advancement in the
Los Angeles
County
as either a Deputy Probation Officer or as a
Children’s Social Worker.
I am hoping to continue to grow in the Youth
Development Services Program and eventually pursue a
career as a Transition Coordinator to continue to
transmit faith and hope among my fellow brothers and
sisters in ILP.
I want to take this time to encourage each of you to
take advantage of the many opportunities being offered
to you. Be
very productive while your ILP years.
Life has a schedule, half of it we work and
half of it we play.
You decide whether you want to work or play or
whether young or older.
You are the only one who will live your life
and can make that choice.
Last, but not least….”Remove
the rock from your shoe rather than learn to limp
comfortably”. --Stephen C. Paul and Gary Max
Collins
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Youth Development Services Help 
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