We've all seen the movies, heard the horrors. You probably have heard, and maybe agree with, a stigma of what a foster child will act like, who they'll become. The thing is, their destiny isn't determined yet. A "troubled" teen is just a teen who needs love and support. I plan to do just that for every child who steps through my door when I one day become a foster parent.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a household with my biological parents. My parents are kind, loving, and supportive. Not every child has this opportunity, though. Due to unforeseen circumstances, there are children who are unable to grow up with their biological parents. Over 400,000 children and teens are in the Foster Care system today. These children and teens have just as much the right to growing up in a kind, loving, and supportive environment as I did.

I can't preach about my beliefs if I'm not willing to act on them. I believe that no child, no person, is a lost cause. I believe that everyone deserves the same chance to reach their full potential. I have a love for children. I plan to work in the field of education in order to work with children. My love for children extends past wanting to educate, though. I want to help children, no matter how young or old, succeed. I want to give them the tools they need to be successful, and that doesn't just mean providing them with knowledge.

For me, this means taking in children who need a temporary home. Whether they stay with me for a few months, a year, or more doesn't matter. Whether they leave to be reunited with their parents (51% of foster children who leave the system leave to be reunited with parents), to be adopted (21%), or some other unknown reason doesn't matter. The time they spend under my roof they will experience all of the love and support I can give. I will never turn my back on a child because of their background, and I will do the best I can to help every child I foster.

There doesn't have to be a problem with the system. Children should be coming out stronger than they came in. Foster parents have this amazing opportunity to make the children who stay with them feel like their foster house is a home, no matter how long they stay there.

Consider becoming a foster parent today.