5 People Tell Us About The Time Someone Changed The Trajectory Of Their Life

It only takes one person to change a life. For many foster youths, you can be that impact by donating to Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services. It helps children in or at risk of foster care achieve bright futures with mental health counseling, emergency shelter and residential care programs, foster family and adoption homes, education and career advocacy, and supportive housing.

1. An inspiring woman empowered me to advocate for my child.

"My child developed a very serious chronic illness and was hospitalized for months. We got through it by just taking it day by day, or hour by hour, or sometimes just 15 minutes at a time. But eventually it all become the new normal of our lives and we moved on.

"The hard part was the anger and frustration I experienced when the school district completely let my child down. I was totally out of my depth. So I reached out for help, something that’s not easy for me, and this amazing woman came into my life. She taught me how to write strategically worded letters, how to navigate the system, and how to think out of the box when it comes to education. Because of her, I became a successful advocate for my child and a stronger person in the process."

—Zena F.

2. A mentor helped my friend through his depression.

"My good friend Chris moved to Amsterdam for work for a year in 2011. He was always a fun guy, if a little cynical and acerbic. In 2012, I went to visit him and he seemed like a totally different person in all the best ways. He was still the guy I’d always known but all of the edge had been taken off of him.

"Unbeknownst to me, he’d had a very hard time for the first year in Amsterdam. It got pretty dark and suicidal thoughts entered the equation. Thankfully, he knew when it was time to get help. He found a mentor in Amsterdam who introduced him to Buddhism and mindfulness meditation. That led to him seeking other mentors and teachers who could deepen his practice. 

"To me, anything that sparked such a positive change was worth exploring so I began meditating and exploring Buddhism myself. Like Chris, I sought out teachers (this time in Los Angeles) who could show me how to navigate life’s difficult parts. 

"Two quotes I learned from these mentors encapsulate what I get from it. The first was “by putting up with little cares, I learn to deal with great adversity.” Put another way: By training myself daily to not scratch my nose in meditation, I learn that I don’t have to react to the biggest emotional swings I’ll encounter in my life. Another quote hits this same theme: “Every time you think you can’t take it anymore, you’re actually in the middle of taking it.” The most unpleasant experiences in our lives are actually the moments when we show our greatest strength. To this day, whenever I “can’t take it anymore,” I try to remember that I am currently taking it."

—Eddie S.

3. My team leader was an important mentor in my life.

"After college, I was an intern at a company I really loved. When the internship was ending, I was fortunate enough to be offered a full-time job. I was SO EXCITED but then the excitement quickly transformed into impostor syndrome. I was freaking out that I wasn't good enough to really succeed in this new role. In one of our first chats, the head of the team was very upfront with me and told me that they hired me, not because I was an expert in the role but because they saw potential and passion in me (even if I couldn't see that). They specifically told me, 'You can teach someone skills but you can't teach someone passion. And I've never met anyone more passionate about this company.' 

"I'll always remember that and how they took a chance on me. They really took me under their wing and helped me develop in my career and build my confidence. Fast-forward and I've been happily employed at the same company for almost nine years, and it's all because of them. I hope I can be a mentor like that to someone one day!"

—Chloe R.

4. My cheerleading coach helped me to become a leader.

"My high school cheerleading coach revealed to me that the reason she knew I would be a successful co-captain was because I was the type of person whose lead people want to follow without even realizing it. Before she shared this, I'd always assumed leaders had to be commanding but her explanation gave me so much quiet confidence and ultimately shaped the way I think about leadership. I've carried it with me into adulthood and think about it often."

—Sam C.

5. My boss taught me to prioritize my family over work.

"When I was an assistant just starting out in the entertainment industry, an executive I worked with would always go home to her family exactly at 5 p.m. One day, she made a remark that really stuck with me. She said that the people who will be with you on your deathbed won't be your coworkers or your boss; it will be your family. Those are the relationships that you prioritize because jobs will come and go but your family will always be there. I think that whether it's your blood relatives or a chosen foster family, it matters to know that you have people who love and support you." 

—Margot N.

All images courtesy of Getty Images.

Now, you can have an impact on someone else. You can help by fostering and donating. And if you are local, you can volunteer or mentor. Help give young people hope for their future. For more ways to get involved, go to www.oyhfs.org.

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