When he entered foster care, he was uncertain of his future.
Now, a program linking young people in foster care to early college opportunities at IUPUI has given Greenwood resident Lewis Le a firmer grasp on his path.
The program is run through Foster Success, a non-profit organization based in Indianapolis that connects young adults under 26 transitioning out of Indiana’s foster care system with resources as they enter college and the workforce. Le spent the summer learning about personal finance, resume and career-preparedness, and taking college classes through three Foster Success programs. His future wasn’t always as clear.
“In my first three years in the U.S., I didn’t really speak this language,” Le said. “It was really difficult for me because everyone here was speaking English and my first language was Vietnamese. It (affects) everything, making friends, studying in school, staying focused in school. I barely understood what people were saying. Even going into restaurants and ordering food, I needed somebody with me.”