Tina’s story is one of community and being in the right places at the right time—or as Tina would say— miracles. After being removed from her mother’s home at the age of 16, Tina was placed in a group home. The structure became too much for her and she ran away. For a period of time, she lived on the street, couch surfing with former schoolmates, and in a house where she feared she would be trafficked. She was able to escape and luckily ran into her boyfriend’s sister who took her to their parent’s house. There she was caught hiding in his closet by a man who showed her kindness and convinced her to return to foster care. Tina was placed with a kind family in a Christian community. It was here she created close bonds and a strong sense of self that propelled her to success.

As an adult, Tina is learning to help others through their trauma by becoming a certified trauma recovery coach. She is now married and has two children. She wants to encourage people who experienced foster care that hope is real and it is never too late to ask for help. She hopes to see more programs for people transitioning out of foster care as people did out of the kindness of their hearts when she aged out. She hopes her story can be one that reminds others that everything happens for a reason and that you can be successful in life and love regardless of where you came from.

If you are a former foster child who aged out of the system and want to share your story, email us at [email protected]! You deserve to be heard.

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Credits:

·       Interviewee: Tina Rodriquez Chew

·       Interviewers: Eleanor Pelham and Ryan Richmond

·       Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi

·       Editing Team: Eleanor Pelham and Brooke Sutter

·       Music Credit:

o   Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu

o   Music Promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03Aky9bhOMU

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.