Marianna's Story
For students navigating college after foster care, the path forward often requires resilience, creativity, and support. Fostering Success and Significance (FSS) helps provide that support—offering resources, mentorship, and community that make a meaningful difference. Marianna’s story reflects both the challenges and the determination it takes to keep moving forward.
Marianna is a student at Cosumnes River Community College (CRC), currently studying Biology with plans to transfer and pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Her journey began early. She entered the foster care system at just five years old, along with her siblings. While they were often separated due to placements, they remained closely connected despite the distance.
Her time in foster care taught her important life skills early on—especially when it came to financial awareness. With instability as a constant, she learned to save whatever she could, building habits that continue to guide her today.
Transitioning to college brought a new set of challenges. Marianna commutes up to three hours each day using public transportation, carefully planning her schedule around classes, meals, and grocery trips. Because her case remains open in Los Angeles, she has also faced barriers accessing local resources, including scholarships, professional clothing, and even medical care. Despite these obstacles, she continues to show up and stay focused on her goals.
Marianna first learned about FSS through a counselor and her sister-in-law. Since joining the program, she has benefited from both financial and personal support. Scholarships have helped her work toward a major goal—saving for a car to improve her daily commute and independence. Workshops have introduced her to valuable tools like job searching strategies, financial concepts, and maintaining balance across different areas of life.
She also recognizes the importance of mentorship, especially for students who may struggle to ask for help. Having guidance and support, she says, can make all the difference in feeling less alone and more confident moving forward.
Looking ahead, Marianna plans to graduate from CRC in 2027 and transfer to UC Davis where she will pursue Animal Science. Her ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian for companion animals.
Her message to others is one of encouragement and perseverance:
Don’t be discouraged if things don’t go as planned. There are many paths to higher education, and as long as you don’t give up, you will keep moving forward.
Marianna’s journey is a powerful reminder that while the path may not be easy, it is possible—and support systems like FSS help make that path a little more attainable.