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Aware, responsive, and shining star are words that people who have had the opportunity to work with Nicole have used to describe her. Nicole was separated from her parents when she was seven years old.
This adjustment was really hard on Nicole, but she responded by focusing on the classroom, where she has excelled ever since. Nicole has been on the honor roll since the third grade and is currently on the Dean’s list at her community college and has been invited to join her college’s honor society, Phi Theta Kappa.
Nicole bounced around to a few different homes and placements. While some of her homes were difficult for Nicole, the foster care system wasn’t all negative. When she was 16, she finally found what she described as “the most amazing foster parents ever”.
Even though she moved out last September, Nicole still has family dinner night with them nearly every week. One organization Nicole focuses her energy on is the Oregon Foster Youth Connection (OFYC) youth board.
She serves as their vice president and reaches out to youth in her independent living program to encourage them to participate in the OFYC and to be strong advocates, not only on a personal level but also on an advocacy level as well.
Nicole is also intrigued by the criminal justice system and serves as a Police Cadet with the Salem Police Department, to gain experience to help her obtain her future career goal of becoming an FBI agent. Nicole is a great mentor to the young adults around her and is a strong asset to anyone who has the opportunity to work with her to better the foster care system.