Some foster kids or teens do not have family — bio or otherwise — like me. I am a foster care young adult who lives on campus year-round. I have a foster scholarship at Rhode Island College and I am learning new things, some of them amazing and others not so much. I would like to tell you about it.
First, the positives. Two of the ways I learned I can get food are through RI Reconnect, a program that will help you as long as you are a full-time college student — they give me a Shaw’s food card. The other option is the food pantry on campus, where we can go and get food as needed. RI Reconnect does not just help with food and gas cards either. They will also help with car insurance, phone bills, laptops, e plis.
Through my foster scholarship I get free tuition, housing, a path to a four-year diploma, help with laundry, a meal plan, and an amazing support person. I even get to live on campus during breaks and over the summer, because they know some of us have nowhere else to go. My scholarship even celebrates when we make the Dean’s List — which I have done twice.
One of the negatives is that I cannot apply for SNAP benefits because I have a meal plan at college, but the dining hall is not open on weekends at all. The food on campus is also the same every day and is not very healthy.
People say having the foster scholarship is a good thing, and in some ways I agree — but in other ways I really wish people would stop saying it. It is helpful and it makes college possible for me, but people do not realize the pain and hurt I went through. When I think about how I am able to go to school, I am also reminded of everything I had to go through to get here. It is bittersweet.
I love living on campus when it is really quiet. You can take a walk and it looks so beautiful and peaceful. I love the dorm. The only downside is that there is no kitchen, and I miss cooking so much.
If you ever go to college, spend at least one year — or even one semester — living on campus.
