After spending 15 years in the foster care system, in more than 20 foster homes, Ashley Stokes is determined to get an education and get ahead.
This 21-year-old’s dream is to some day run a group home for teenage girls, who she says too often are “voiceless.” Ashley came close to living on the streets more than once, and she understands their feelings and their needs.
So she is studying two tracks at Milwaukee Area Technical School, management and human services. She also is licensed as a certified nursing assistant and hopes to get into phlebotomy work to earn money in the short term while she works toward her dream job.
St. Aemilian-Lakeside, which is serving her through its Independent Living Services (ILS) program is keeping her on track, helping her stay focused and teaching her the life skills, such as budgeting – which she admits she needs help with — to succeed. ILS serves young people who have aged out of foster care at 18 and because of their often unstable backgrounds need help to transition successfully to adulthood.
Through ILS, Ashley was provided with an apartment for 18 months, furniture, food assistance, start-up household goods and case management.
“Whatever you need, they’re always there for you,” Ashley said. She has transitioned from an 18-month program to one that provides long-term case management and guidance, and she has received help with a security deposit and rent so she could find her own place to live.
The bedrock, however, is education. Ashley knows it’s the key to her future.
“I want to do it (get more education), because I want to go farther, to expand my career. And I want more things out of life. I like working with youth, and because of what I’ve been through, I want to give back to those who can’t speak for themselves.”
In addition to helping her achieve her goals, Ashley notes that furthering her education helps her learn things she would not know because of her fragmented personal background. And it puts her in contact with people who are different from her, so she can learn more from other people’s knowledge and experiences.
Staying in school is sometimes hard, Ashley admits, and sometimes she gets stressed. But she walks along the lake to de-stress and she talks to her past and current ILS counselors.
“Christine (Woods, her former case manager) was always pushing me to do more; she’s like a mother to me,” Ashley said. “Loretta (Williams, her current youth counselor) has a lot of insight. She helps me with my occasional attitude problem – well, I don’t really have an attitude problem, but I’m a strong- minded person – and she gives me someone to talk to who won’t judge me.”
Is she going to make it? To realize her dream?
“Yes I am!” Ashley says firmly. “For sure!” She won’t even allow her self to consider what life might be like if she didn’t stay in school and stay on course.
“She’s so persistent and determined, especially with school and what needs to be done,” Loretta said. “She will take the first steps she needs in her life rather than waiting for someone else.”
And what will life be like when she achieves her education and her dream? Ashley’s face lights up in a huge smile.
“Then life can be beautiful, it can be gorgeous!”
