Nyla's Story of Life-Changing Education and Mentorship
When an aged-out foster care student receives an ISF scholarship, they also benefit from the other two pillars of our programming: mentoring and leadership development. Nyla, one of our 2021 scholarship recipients, represents how meaningful these programs can be in changing the narrative for foster care students!
Scholarships:
“I am always so used to applying for scholarships and never hearing anything back from them,” Nyla shares. It can be difficult for foster care youth to navigate the higher education world. College applications, financial aid, housing, and paying the bills–such responsibilities often come without the typical guidance of a guardian and often have a high learning curve. At ISF, we want students’ scholarship experience to be as accessible as possible.
“I was happy to know that the ISF fund can be used for whatever I need for school,” says Nyla. “It makes me feel like the program is dedicated to my success. ISF does an amazing job at offering scholarship students companionship, guidance, financial assistance, and opportunities.”
Mentoring:
Nyla loves the relationship she has with her mentor. “My mentor, Elizabeth, is very supportive of me and my dreams,” she says. They talk on the phone at least once a week and share podcasts, books, and photos. Nyla feels that her mentor helps her solve problems, encourages her, and listens to her. She even envisions her experience with Elizabeth as a future opportunity to mentor a youth like herself.
“If I was mentoring a foster youth, I would try to support them in the same ways that Elizabeth mentors me,” Nyla shares. “Just listening to them and speaking up when I know how to help them or researching some who can. I would go the extra mile to make them feel worthy, appreciated, and loved.”
Leadership Development:
Nyla exudes the qualities of a leader especially when she talks about her career ambitions. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she plans to continue her education to become a Physician Assistant. “I want to challenge the statistics that say foster care students are less likely to be successful in school,” she declares. “I know that it will take dedication and perseverance but I am willing to give my all for dreams.” She also dreams of living a life of service as a way to thank the people who helped her when she needed them. “I believe that the best way that I can return the favor is by helping others how they helped me,” she says.