This little boy had never played sports. He was already 10 years old and was dying to play baseball. So, I helped him get on a league, and he was just so passionate about baseball. Doing that little thing meant a lot to him, and it was very fulfilling for me.
What really brought me to CASA was that someone I loved was put into foster care. I didn’t know anything about it, and that was really what propelled me into learning about foster care and everything that kids go through, through no fault of their own. I thought, I have to do something to help. And that’s really what drew me to it, it’s as simple as that.
Encouraging her creativity has been super important. She’s a great anime artist. I’m teaching her how to play guitar now. I want to keep those passions going because no matter what happens, they can always turn to drawing, they can always turn to writing a song. If that’s how I've helped her, then I feel like I’ve done my job.
You will help them grow and you will help them improve as individuals, but it’s reciprocated because it gives you a new view on life, a new view of how to solve a lot of issues that you will actually face even as an adult. So, by helping others, you help yourself.
I think the biggest part is just reaching out and checking in and seeing the little wins that she has for herself, then being there along the way to help her with those wins and anything else she needs. I was actually in the foster care system, so I come from a similar background and wanted to be a part of a program that helped.