04.06.2026

Savannah’s Tools for Growing Possibility

In one month, Savannah will be walking in her community college’s graduation ceremony with two honors cords draped over her shoulders. This reality is unfathomable to that angry 16-year-old who spent more time in suspensions than in classrooms. 

“School just felt like something I had to survive rather than succeed in,” says Savannah. The truth is that she had been living in survival mode her whole life. 

Entering Foster Care 

When a squad of police officers arrived at her Nevada home, Savannah assumed they were there for her parents. Yet she was the one who left in a police car. She spent time in a local shelter before DCYF brought her to Washington, where she bounced from placement to shelter and back again. 

All the while, she was expected to pay attention in class and dutifully do homework, like everything was fine. 

“I really didn’t like anybody,” says Savannah. That included Sherry, the Treehouse Education Specialist who saw her at school. “The first time I met her, I did fire her,” she laughs sheepishly.

Withstanding the distrust and defense mechanisms of youth who’ve experienced trauma is part of the job for Treehouse specialists; and Savannah’s specialist kept showing up. “Being in the foster care system, a lot of people, like, do give up on you,” shares Savannah, “and it came hard for me to realize that people do care about me.” 

Meeting Youth Where They Are 

Treehouse specialists meet weekly with students one-on-one at their schools to check in on academics, basic needs, extracurriculars, and more. These weekly meetings build a safe, stable base for students to share their interests and dreams—then the specialist helps them gameplan how to reach those goals. 

“That was my light bulb moment,” states Savanah. “I realized it wasn’t just a program. It was a real support system to me. It helped me start to believe in myself, even when I didn’t think I could do better. Knowing that someone generally wanted to help me set and reach goals made a huge difference in my mindset, to be honest.” 

With her Treehouse specialist and the high school’s dean of students advocating for her, Savannah graduated from high school in 2020. Due to COVID-19 and a lack of familial support, her graduation celebration was a public meetup with her two supporters. Although her GPA was lower than typical, it allowed her to move into the next stage of her life. 

Tools + Time = Growth 

“It’s not perfect, but it’s my story,” Savannah reflects. She tried community college but dropped the courses. She eventually made her way to Florida, and about three years ago was exited from Extended Foster Care at 21 years old. Shortly after, she decided to enroll at the local community college—the one she is now graduating from. 

“Some tools and habits I rely on today that I learned from Treehouse include, like, staying connected with people who support me; I also rely on asking for help when I need it; and setting clear goals for myself,” shares Savannah. “Those habits keep me organized, motivated, and focused on steps I need to reach my goals. I’ve learned to be openly communicative instead of just shutting down.” 

In the fall, Savannah is transferring to the University of South Florida, where she will be majoring in criminology. After a bachelor’s degree, she intends to go to law school to be a prosecutor—and who knows? Maybe even a judge. 

“Savannah now sends me periodic updates about her life and how she is doing. I smile every time an email comes in,” says Sherry, Savannah’s former Treehouse specialist. “She is so proud of her hard work and she should be. The growth is amazing—she is DOING IT! And I’m so thankful for our time working together.” 

Fostering the Future  

“Today, my education means something completely different to me,” Savannah says. “It represents opportunity and independence and the ability to build a future that I can be proud of. It’s about more than just grades. It’s about proving to myself that I can overcome challenges and create a life that I want.” 

Savannah calls it a blessing to know there are people who care about her. “If I did not have the care and support during the scariest times of my life, I don’t know where I would have ended up,” Savannah says soberly. “I started late, but I’m gonna be done by the time I hit 30.” 

“My message to other foster care youth is: your voice matters, and it deserves to be heard,” Savannah states. “Your situation does not define your future. And with the right support and determination, you can overcome challenges and accomplish things you may not even think are possible right now.” 

Subscribe to Our Blog