Do you remember Anthony’s story from last year? Today, we’re following up with this proud 2023 high school graduate and Braid youth.

When Anthony lost his father just before 9th grade, he was unsure if high school graduation was a milestone he would ever reach. “Younger me definitely didn’t think I’d make it that far or graduate high school,” he shared.

Now, with his first year at San Francisco State University under his belt, Anthony is looking forward to his sophomore year and even contemplating adding a double major in history and sociology!

“For the first couple of weeks of college, it was a little bit intimidating, so that made me a little nervous,” he said. “But then experiencing it for myself, it wasn’t so bad.”

Anthony joined a Japanese culture club and is excited to live on campus next year with a new friend while taking full advantage of the rec and wellness center.

Anthony’s Braid team supported him as he navigated the ups and downs of his teenage years, and they still touch base with him as he continues to flourish at SFSU.

In California, only 61.4% of youth in foster care graduated from high school in the 2021-2022 school year, compared to 87.3% of non-foster youth. Foster youth are also much more likely than their peers to be chronically absent, face suspension, and drop out of school altogether.

That’s why the presence of Braid mentors is important, by helping their youth heal from the relational trauma they have experienced and helping them beat these odds.

But obstacles remain after graduating from high school and entering college. Many young adults don’t have the means to purchase supplies their college courses require like textbooks and computers.

When you give to Braid Mission, you are helping students like Anthony achieve their academic goals, some of which might have once felt impossible. If you want to directly support Braid youth in college, you can visit https://braidmission.org/donate/ and include “College Supplies” in the comment so we know where to direct your gift.

Thank you so much for supporting our youth in their journey!