Victoria spent 14 years in foster care and experienced many moves and several unsuccessful adoptions. Victoria stayed in extended care and it wasn’t until 19 that Victoria found permanency with an adoptive mother. It was Victoria’s own self-advocacy and resiliency that led her to finding a family. It was these same traits that also led to Victoria’s success in high school and ultimately college. During her time in college Victoria used her experience to transform the lives of youth not only in Massachusetts, but also across the country. She has spoken with members of both her biological and adoptive family on panels and even attended a hearing in congress with the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth. She has since graduated with a bachelor’s degree and is now pursing a master’s degree in Human Services, yet she still finds time to help foster youth by working full time in a group home with young adults. Upon graduation she hopes to help older youth in foster care work through the trauma they’ve faced to find permanence.