Turning Trials into Triumphs: A Journey Through Adversity
From Foster Care to Tech Copywriter & Holistic Success Coach
By: Shari Walker
Searching For My Career Path In The Uncharted Waters of College After Foster Care
The first day I stepped foot on the Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) campus, I felt like Alice falling headfirst into Wonderland.
The expansive corridors winding in every direction, students bustling to and fro, the admin offices with their labyrinth of paperwork - it was sensory overload. I clung tightly to my class schedule, my golden ticket to this academic wonderland.
At just 18 years old, with my experience in the foster care system immediately behind me, I hoped college would guide me toward a destined career path. But I quickly realized this university wilderness was far more dense and disorienting than I ever could have imagined. The well-trodden paths most students knew to follow seemed obscure to me, a wilderness explorer with a map in hand but no trail in sight. My journey of self-discovery through college had only just begun, and mysteries awaited around every turn.
The first challenge I faced exiting foster care resulted from my first experience in a classroom. I had just exited foster care at 18 and was immediately accepted into Cal State Long Beach University (CSULB). I entered with the hopes that college would sustain me until I could gain my footing and find out what career path I wanted to take in life. Yet, this self-discovery journey that college offered me was not as simple as solving the problem of a former foster kid trying to navigate not only life after being in the system but life skills that never were revealed in adolescence.
I say the college classroom was the problem, but really, it was the lecture hall. A large room with an endless array of seats, that offered an invitation for me to join. I sat in the back, with new notebooks with the scholarships I had applied for and been awarded nestled in my hand. Yet, the dilemma came when I realized the class I chose that I thought would talk about signs like Cancer, Aquarius, and Pisces was, in fact, not a class on Astrology 101, but Astronomy 101. Yes, they both look toward the star but for different reasons. This was the first season of challenge, not knowing how to study, being too ashamed to ask for help, feeling not only like an imposter but actually being one because I had no idea as they looked to the stars and sometimes pulled out calculators what was going on. Each step was a dance of careful thought, understanding the implications, and hoping against hope that I was making the right choices.
But with every dance step, there's a rhythm, and mine led me directly to the university doors, a new stage with its own set of melodies and missteps.
Letting the Stumbles Become My Launchpad
CSULB might have tripped me up, but it couldn't make me fall. With a GPA diving below the horizon, I took flight toward the nurturing skies of Santa Monica Community College. It was there, under the protective wings of the Santa Monica Westside YWCA, that I found my first community — a beacon amidst the fog.
This would be only one instance of the many silent challenges I would face. From navigating relationships with mentors to learning to become a student in a whole different arena than high school. I realized life after foster care was not as simple as being given your final teddy bear and emancipating out of foster care. No, life required several life sessions that ended up all being taught within the adventure of my career path.
And no, I never did land on my feet at CSULB, in fact, my GPA was lower than 2.0 by the time I was kicked out.
As I entered my 20s, after leaving CSULB, I transitioned into Santa Monica Community College. During my 2 years at community college, I thrived. I learned the valuable lesson of finding a career community that can meet you where you are in your journey to thrive, not just survive after foster care. My first sense of my career community came in the form of a transitional housing program called the Santa Monica Westside YWCA.
These are the four lessons I learned:
Lesson 1: Harness the Power of Paid Internships
It offered me the opportunity to enter into internships that included top Fortune 500 companies like Warner Brothers Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions. I even briefly interned as an Audience Coordinator intern for Dr. Phil, which I loved by the way because of all of the amazing self-help books they regularly offered that I was more than happy to dig into.
In addition to Warner Brothers and Dick Clark Productions, I completed an unpaid internship with the United Friends of the Children's (UFC) transitional housing program. While not financially compensated, this internship provided the hands-on training I needed to complete my Master of Social Work program. The experience proved incredibly transformational.
During the year I spent interning, I was able to create engaging workshops like "Know Yourself Better than I Know My Natural Hair," which incorporated vision boarding for career dreams, writing exercises, and tips on balancing college and work. While supporting youth in navigating, connecting with community resources, and supporting with career goals. In addition, with the trust of my supervisor, I gained responsibility for facilitating workshops and even launching my own curriculum. Seeing the impact firsthand as youth gained confidence in their potential was so rewarding. The staff became mentors, helping me hone my skills in crafting curriculum and workshops to empower vulnerable groups.
The workshops I created took a holistic approach to empower participants to dream big while still being financially pragmatic. For instance, one workshop guided youth in envisioning their ideal future car and home life. We didn't start with budgets - first, they connected to their deeper values and aspirations. Did they envision the luxury of a Tesla or the freedom of a paid-off hooptie? A private single apartment or a vibrant shared housing community? This allowed them to dream unrestricted.
Then we incorporated pragmatic financial steps to make those dreams achievable, like budgeting and financial aid. In addition, we addressed work-life balance by having youth envision their ideal leisure time and community engagement. This motivation supplemented the practical budgeting tools. By centering their values and desires first, then layering on tangible steps, the youth gained motivation along with practical tools. They saw their dreams within reach, not restricted by finances. This holistic model shaped my approach of elevating empowerment through purposeful planning.
For instance, by the end of our housing visioning workshop, participants felt empowered to self-advocate and navigate complex housing applications with self-confidence. They had a new vision for incremental steps like budget-friendly roommates to ultimately reach their dream home.
This experience showed me how social work can tangibly empower youth to chart their career, education, and housing goals. This hands-on internship proved the perfect training ground to amplify my passion for social change and put my Master of Social Work into practice. Throughout my internships, I learned many lessons about the professional world. Beyond the invaluable exposure to new career paths, I cherished the array of insightful opportunities to build new professional paths they introduced me to.
Remember, every paid internship, no matter how big or small, is a golden opportunity to learn, grow, and take one step closer to your ultimate career goal (keep in mind I said paid - I know the struggle of managing finances, so unpaid does not need to be an option). My MSW internship experiences sparked my passion for taking a holistic approach to building bridges to my dreams that would shape my career.
Lesson 2: Allow Financial Literacy to Become a Lighthouse
Navigating post-foster care life while enlightening, often felt like sailing turbulent seas. Yet, non-profits like 50/50 Leadership have been amazing at supporting me on my journey. Their relentless support, particularly in financial literacy, continues to be a beacon for myself, my two daughters, and husband.
As I transitioned through the various stages from my teens to mid-20s, navigating the murky waters of finances after foster care showed me just how vital financial literacy can be. I felt completely lost trying to manage my money independently for the first time. Simple tasks like budgeting, opening a bank account, and tracking expenses seemed impossible without guidance.
When I discovered the financial literacy workshops at 50/50 Leadership, after graduating with my MSW from USC in the Department of Social Change and Innovation and recently becoming a first-time mom, this was such a relief. As I learned tangible money management skills, I also regained a sense of empowerment. I discovered I could craft my innate gifts for speaking, writing, and connecting people to stabilize our family financially. The knowledge from those workshops lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.
I was surprised to learn just how emotional money can be. The workshops emphasized planning ahead not just to be responsible, but to avoid making regretful decisions in emotionally charged moments. Things like creating a buffer in savings and timeline goals for large purchases were new concepts for me. And while I expected to gain the technical skills, I was struck by how intertwined finances are with our values and relationships. Sessions on having open money talks with partners and setting family financial priorities based on what matters most were so eye-opening. I learned money conflicts often arise when values aren't aligned.
In addition, The workshops gave me a whole new vocabulary and way of thinking about money. Terms like 'paying yourself first' reframed savings for me - no longer restrictive but actually an act of self-care! Thinking of my money as working for me shifted my mindset from scarcity to abundance. Gaining this insight changed how I approached financial goals.
Sitting in that first Money 101 workshop, I finally felt financially visible - like someone turned a light on in a dark room I'd been stumbling through. Concepts that had confused me for years suddenly made sense. The workshops didn't just cover the hard financial skills but spoke to my heart, giving me hope and confidence for the future. During a difficult transition, I found 50/50 Leadership who has been instrumental in supporting me via the phenomenal financial literacy Live workshop, and the amazing mentors they have provided. My dreams, vision, and hopes for a career path as a mom have not only been encouraged but supported with resources, deep insights, and what I love most, encouragement.
50/50 Leadership programs via mentorship and the financial planning workshop have become cornerstones in my pathway to holistic financial growth. The Money 101 workshops and mentorship program not only enhanced my understanding of finances but enriched my career journey with hope, confidence, and faith. Navigating post-foster care life, while enlightening, often felt like sailing turbulent seas. However, nonprofits like 50/50 Leadership have been monumental in guiding my way. Their unwavering support, especially in the realm of financial literacy, continues to be a guiding light for my family and me.
During a challenging phase in life, the beacon that was 50/50 Leadership shone brightly, and the insights from their financial literacy workshops and their empowering mentors have been nothing short of transformative. My dreams, vision, and aspirations as a mother and a professional found not just a voice, but a platform and a guiding hand with them.
My career took twists and turns that revealed this key truth below.
Lesson 3: Define Your Own Dream Goals with Purpose
I remember a pivotal moment when a family member tried convincing me to drop out of college and just get any job to pay the bills. They didn't think someone from our background could afford big dreams or handle pursuing higher education.
Although their words stung, I persisted anyway. I didn't let early stumbles like struggling at CSULB define me. I pressed on to graduate from SMC and CSUN. Now, with a Master's degree from USC under my belt, I'm applying to UCLA's Master of Legal Studies program.
When you encounter naysayers who try to limit your potential, stay rooted in your vision. Use it as fuel to keep rising above expectations, even your own. My academic, professional and writing path taught me no dream is too bold if you have the drive and courage to achieve it.
I have had a multifaceted career journey that has taken me from Fortune 500 internships with top companies to fast food restaurants where Pizza Hut sauces splashed in my face while navigating a rushed customer order and leaving me feeling like, “There has to be more on this career journey.”
Pushing past limitations on my college experience gave me the courage to craft an impact-driven career integrating my diverse passions from spoken word poetry, storytelling, to Tech Copywriter and Holistic Success Coach Coaching.
My perseverance to complete multiple degrees, even when doubters challenged me, reinforced the importance of defining your own path on your terms. This has shaped my approach to forging a career centered on purpose, not external limitations.
In addition, in our current modern, fast-paced world, stories of career success are often interwoven with tales of long hours, unyielding demands, and the sacrifices made to rise through the ranks. Such narratives, while inspiring, also brought forth an unsettling realization: many find themselves ensnared in a relentless cycle where work overshadows personal aspirations.
The vision of success painted by society often emphasizes status and achievement, but at what cost? I found myself yearning for a balance—a thriving professional life without compromising moments with family, friends, and personal passions.
Navigating through various job experiences, I began discerning a clear pattern. The societal push towards a singular view of success sometimes came at the expense of personal meaning and harmony.
And oh, there is more. The path I chose? It Ignited "Soulful Adulting." It wasn’t the highway everyone took; it was the scenic route, filled with sights unseen and lessons unlearned. I took a counter path to the transitional road, and I loved it. I call it ‘Soulful Adulting,’ the holistic approach to career and professional growth. This is the basis for how I carved out my own unique path.
Rather than capitulating to this paradigm, I became resolute in my desire to craft a career that echoed my values and priorities. This journey of introspection and self-discovery led to my aspiration of creating a genuine positive impact—away from the confinements of a demanding hustle culture. And thus, my "Soulful Adulting" philosophy emerged, rooted in purpose and balance.
The first step in carving out your own unique career path is to choose the one core impact you want to have in the world. Focus on the impact, yes, be mindful of the budget, and yes, plan for unexpected plot twists that come with life, yet find that core impact movement you want to have within the world. For me, that was always service. I wanted to help others find the resources, community, mentorship, and careers that sparked the light in their spirit because I knew how it felt… How it felt to push through at jobs for a paycheck because you feel like career dreaming is a luxury.
This lesson on finding my purpose showed me:
Identify Your Core Impact: Before considering job titles or industries, think about the ripple effect it will have on not only your personal life, time, and ability to spend time in the community but also the impact you make. Consider where you want to make an impact. Is it service? Innovation? Holistic Healing? Find that central theme and allow that to be your anchor when self-doubt creeps in.
Budget Mindfully: While aspiring towards dreams, ensure you're not only financially grounded but also leveraging the opportunities to gain skills that will support you in your career that can be leveraged for your earning potential. Yes, keep an eye on your finances and still ensure you do not lose sight of your faith in a professional space where you feel like you belong.
Anticipate Life's Curveballs: Be adaptable. Life is full of unexpected plot twists. Instead of sabotaging what can be and allowing fear to lead, instead embrace learning and making positive pivots from each turn.
Connect with Your Experiences: Reflect on past experiences, both the peaks and valleys. Every job, every role, and every challenge has a lesson embedded within. Recognize them and build a bridge to align your career not just forward but with who you are and where you want to be holistically.
In the vast landscape of professional growth, there’s a path less trodden – one that acknowledges not just our achievements and skills, but our vulnerabilities, emotions, and inner stories. My journey, from the uncertain corridors of foster care to the sunlit hallways of a thriving career, has taught me that real growth is holistic. It's intertwined with our hearts, our stories, and our courage.
I remember the feeling of being lost, both in a college lecture hall and in life, wandering without direction. However, recognizing my dedication to service realigned my compass. It directed me from being an emergency room clerk to interning in a social media department, and eventually, finding my niche as a Tech Copywriter by day and Holistic Success Coach by night.
Driven by the impact of service, my career transformed in ways I never imagined – shadowing renowned Hollywood directors and even producing a PBS Fostering Change Initiative documentary. Remember, when you define your primary impact on the world, the path ahead becomes clearer and more rewarding.
What To Do When The Journey Seems Uneven
In the vast landscape of professional growth, there’s a path less trodden – one that acknowledges not just our achievements and skills, but our vulnerabilities, emotions, and inner stories. My journey, from the uncertain corridors of foster care to the sunlit hallways of a thriving career, has taught me that real growth is holistic. It's intertwined with our hearts, our stories, and our courage.
I know what it feels like to sit in a college classroom and feel like you have no idea what is happening while everyone is taking notes around you. I know the feeling of dread when the holidays come and go, and you want to forget the road you traveled, and so you inch closer to self-sabotage than you towards the extraordinary vision you have to make a difference.
Yet, when choosing my core impact of service, I learned to appreciate the journey. From working in an emergency room as a clerk to the social media department as an intern to a Tech Copywriter and Holistic Success Coach. The core impact of service led me to amazing places, from being on television sets shadowing top Hollywood directors to making a PBS Fostering Change Initiative mini-documentary of my own— the journey was never about the destination but the footprints left behind. Choose your core personal positive impact movement, and your career will come together.
Where I Stand Today
Sitting in tech meetings and working with design teams as a Copywriter, feels miles away from those foster care mornings and the cold emancipated foster care nights. Yet, in this journey, I have learned a lesson that our endpoint doesn’t define our end, nor does the beginning. What matters is the road you are on right now. Not looking back, not rushing forward, but where are you, and who do you want to be in this world? What do you want to do to make a pivotal impact that resounds with positivity to support others in moments of difficulty you may have had?
If someone had whispered to me years ago about becoming a copywriter or stepping into the world of Tech Copywriter and Holistic Success Coach, I might have laughed it off. But every twist, every pivot, was a new chapter in a saga of joy, community, and discovery that could have been an obstacle, but instead led me on a beautiful adventure of joy, laughter, and community, and eventually here to a blossoming place with 50/50 Leadership.
Dear Dreamer & Innovator,
Whether you are a budding writer seeking the perfect phrase, a seasoned professional fine-tuning your leadership skills, or a college student staring wide-eyed at the expansive future ahead, we all yearn for a guide. A beacon that guides our steps in the vast arena of professional aspirations.
For the Writers:
Crafting Your Voice
Just like every snowflake is unique, so is every writer's voice. The words you pen are an embodiment of your soul, your experiences, and your world perspective. They're a tapestry woven with the threads of your individuality.
Read Variously: Expand your literary horizons. The more varied your reading, the richer your writing.
Write Relentlessly: Every draft gets you closer to perfection.
Seek Feedback, but Stay True: Constructive criticism is gold, but never lose your authentic voice.
Embrace Rejection: Remember, even the most renowned authors faced rejections. It's a rite of passage in a writer's journey.
For the Professionals:
Navigating the Labyrinth of Leadership
The professional world is a labyrinth. While every turn holds a promise, it also poses challenges. Your leadership journey is not about avoiding these challenges but about navigating through them with grace and wisdom.
Never Stop Learning: Professional growth is synonymous with continuous learning.
Network: Your network is your net worth. Foster genuine relationships.
Mentor and Be Mentored: Wisdom is best received when shared.
Embrace Change: In the dynamic corporate world, adaptability is the key to survival.
For the College Students:
Charting Uncharted Waters
College life is a myriad of opportunities, dreams, confusions, and breakthroughs. It's your sandbox, where you get to experiment, learn, and mold your professional aspirations.
Explore: Take varied courses, join clubs, attend fun workshops. Dabble in various career industries before you specialize in one.
Paid Internships: They're the bridge between academic knowledge and professional application.
Seek Mentorship: Connect with alumni, professors, or professionals in your field of interest.
Resilience: There will be setbacks. They're not stop signs but mere detours.
Invitation to Join My Free Newsletter
Dear Dreamer and Innovator,
Ever stopped to imagine where you might stand in the next 3 or 6 months? I invite you to join my free newsletter and take the next step toward your dream goals getting achieved.
Sitting in tech meetings and working with design teams as a Copywriter feels miles away from those foster care mornings and the cold emancipated foster care nights. Yet, in this journey, I have learned a lesson that our endpoint doesn’t define our end, and neither does the beginning. What matters is the road you are on right now. Not looking back, not rushing forward, but where are you, and who do you want to be in this world? What do you want to do to make a pivotal impact that resounds with positivity to support others in moments of difficulty you may have had?
If you told me I would ever be a Tech Copywriter and that I would sprint into the arena of Holistic Success Coach, I may not have believed something like this was possible for me. I made so many career pivots that could have been an obstacle, but instead led me on a beautiful adventure of joy, laughter, and community, as well as a blossoming place with 50/50 Leadership.
If I can find my own unique career path, so can you. Your dreams, visions, and aspirations matter, even if you don’t know where you want to go. That is perfect! You don’t have to know - and remember: every challenge faced was a lesson in grit and grace. If my journey from foster care to a flourishing career speaks to you, then I warmly invite you to si to my newsletter, 'Soulful Adulting Inspired.' Take the opportunity to choose your career's core impact and let the rest of the road ahead open the door to greet you.
