Photo: MD Duran | Unsplash
A former youth in care who graduated from university recently says she hopes to use her lived experience to help change the child welfare system from the inside out. Jessie-Lynn Cross, from Baie Verte Peninsula, grew up in the foster care system of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She received a bachelor of arts degree in criminology and criminal justice, and human rights, from St. Thomas University in New Brunswick. She plans to continue her post-secondary studies with the goal of becoming a lawyer or policymaker so that she can change policies affecting children and youth in care. With fewer than 3% of young adults growing up in foster care going on to earn a post-secondary degree, Cross hopes her example can provide inspiration to youth in care. "I really hope it makes kids in the system change their minds about their own selves, and that it makes them think that they, too, deserve an education," she said.
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