Chapter 8: “What Do I Do Now?” Transitions of a Foster Kid: A Personal Narrative

For many foster alumni, challenges arise as they age out and transition into adulthood and higher education. One area that has been overlooked is how intersecting identity impacts transition among foster youth, especially Black women. Using Scholarly Personal Narrative (SPN) as a methodology, I used myself as the subject to share my lived experiences as a Black woman in foster care through my transition from foster care to adulthood, college, and my career as a Student Affairs professional. Utilizing transition theory and intersectionality as frameworks, I aim to highlight the complex and nuanced challenges of foster youth as they experience major transitions as well as how identity can show up in their professional lives, especially if they are in a field that is tasked with supporting individuals that have a similar lived experience.