VOX traveled to the 2016 Georgia Division of Family and Children Services Teens R 4 Me Conference to lead a workshop called “The Future Express: The Power of Self-Expression and Planning for Your Future.” We were grateful to meet a great group of teens in the foster care system who shared their experiences, wisdom and talents while discussing their futures. Through the prompts “write a letter to your future self” or “write the blueprint to your future” these teens created and shared profound content about what they envision for their futures.
Click here to hear the audio versions of these personal pieces on VOX’s Soundcloud.
By Arianna, 17
Dear Arianna,
You will graduate from college. Your sisters will be living with you! You will find a balance between being young and a parent to your siblings. I love you. You are truly resilient, boo. Never let someone else make you feel as if you do not belong. God has prepared you for this moment. You deserve greatness. When you are ready to talk to your parents, it will be solely for you. I know you doubt yourself sometimes, but you are a beautiful lioness! Hold on to your support system. Always remember where you come from and the power of giving back. Even though you have trust issues, remember how to accept love from the people who love you, boo.
Love,
Ari
P.S. I know you are a taurus; however, you don’t always have to have that bull exterior.
By Reba, 17
Dear Me,
Not graduating on time
It’s ok
You’ll be ok
Your loving husband
Will comfort you
No matter who you
Choose.
Remember sometimes you need to come before
Others. And name our little
Girl Ruby. Well, see you later.
Love,
Your younger self
P.S. Don’t blame yourself over everything. Not everything’s your fault.
By Antonio, 16
My goals for the future are pretty simple. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I was 6 — to join the military as a U.S. Marine and go to college to take up welding. But before I do that, I was planning on working with one of my two uncles to save some money up before I start, or be a music artist or something.
By Sijeria, 17
Dear future self,
Success may seem hard right now, but you have to remain yourself. You can’t and will not settle for less. You have big dreams and will succeed … because I will be the one pushing you in the mirror everyday, because self motivation is the best motivation.
By Roger, 17
Roger, you have a very professional mindset right now. If you kept them future thoughts that means you are a HVAC technician making good money. Stay positive. Keep doing good in school, go to college for a couple years for HVAC, and learn to fix the new technology, then start building your family.
By Watasia, 15
Dear future self,
I want to finish school and go to college and be something in life. I don’t want to grow up not having money or a place to go. I don’t wanna be on the street begging for food and a place to stay. So that’s why I wanna finish school go to college. Get me a job — I wanna be a singer. One day when I be rich I wanna help the people out [who] don’t have nowhere to go or food to eat. Because that’s a bad feeling … What I wanna do: walk on the streets and find somebody that don’t have anywhere to go or eat or maybe don’t have clothes on their back and give them $500 to eat or buy them some clothes and find them somewhere to go so they won’t be on the streets. My goal is to help people.
By Tiara, 18
Dear Tiara,
Get through Job Cops with your high school diploma so you can take care of your daughter. Get your apartment and car. Learn everything you need to know about getting custody of your child. Have a good job so your daughter won’t have to go through the things you went through. Your whole life counts when you do the right thing. Work on your goals and your commitment. Tell yourself everyday that you can make it because I know you can. Love life and learn from your mistakes. Your life starts here. Be successful in life don’t let people tell you you can’t do it.
By Cody, 15
- Be a collegiate wrestler, never stop training
- Finish college with above a 3.5 GPA
- Get your degree in computer engineering
- Get a job at a big brand computer company
- Stay healthy, stay clean as usual
- Be careful who your friends are
- Don’t just trust anyone
- Be careful with your money
- Go to church
Art above by Ameerah De Chabert, VOX’s Atlanta Teen Voices peer editor and a senior at DeKalb School of the Arts.
VOX’s program, Atlanta Teen Voices, builds partnerships with other teen-serving organizations and amplifies the voices of teens throughout Atlanta. If you’re interested in partnering with Atlanta Teen Voices and having a similar workshop that lifts voices, encourages dialogue and creates publishable content at your organization or school, contact Sarah Garnitz at Sarah@VoxAtl.org
