How one youth overcame hardships and established stability

By Will Daniel, LifeCoach at I Pour Life

From Foster Home to Foster Home

Mike* spent the majority of his life being transferred from foster home to foster home. He admits he learned little in school because he had spent his younger years trying to cope with being dropped off at school after his mother told him she no longer wanted him. These details trickled out during months of coaching. When I met Mike, I knew next to nothing of his situation. 

I was directed by his nominator, a public defender, to go to a corner of two streets, find the empty lot filled with trees, and I was to call Mike’s name because he was living in the bushes. Mike came out, carrying everything he owned in a backpack and two shopping sacks. He was bleeding from walking through thorns. Mike had found himself homeless since he aged out of the foster care system and was simply lost in the world. 

Starting the LifeStrengths Journey

It was difficult to get started coaching because shelter from the late March chill was the top priority. I Pour Life helped find the funding for an emergency stay in a local motel for a few days. 

Mike and I worked on presentation and presentability through the LifeStrengths program. Mike knew that finding income would be the first step toward finding stable housing, but he had no idea where to start. It was a long road full of setbacks, but he found a part time job! 

Establishing Housing

We called all of the local agencies whose mission was to assist in housing unhoused individuals, but shelter it seemed, was in desperately short supply. 

Fast forward a few grueling months — Mike found an apartment and slowly became comfortable with the idea of a second job to keep up with his bills. Mike had obtained a cell phone and paid close attention to what he continued to learn through the LifeStrengths program. 

Currently, he is about to graduate from the LifeStrengths program! He has a car, two jobs, and a girlfriend. Mike’s girlfriend’s children love him, and he is learning what parenting looks like when done with intent. While he is about to complete the curriculum, he will always have I Pour Life as a community to support him. 

Mike credits coaching for filling in the blanks in his life. There were so many things that could, and should, have been shown to him as a youth in foster care. He had no idea what success looked like, and no idea which direction to go. 

Learning to Thrive

Once Mike learned some aspects of how to succeed as an adult, he began to thrive. Mike is truly a different person than he was a few months ago. 

Although he continues to struggle at times, Mike is moving in the right direction with new strength and gratitude. He is building social capital and solidifying relationships. He is comfortable with his identity and introspective of his emotions. He is ready to give back! Mike now has the confidence, and the knowledge, to go forth in this world, a difference maker, having a productive impact on his society.  

To learn how you can support LifeCoaches and help create positive life change for older, at-risk youth, visit ipourlife.org/give. Every donation matters!

*Pseudonym