Kuanie Julin is weeks from completing a UCSF School of Nursing program. Photo by Susan Merrell
Life as a former foster youth isn’t easy, but two students at UC San Francisco have managed to overcome the countless challenges from their experiences.
Kuanie Julin and Paóla Benefo have both come a long way from foster care – though their journeys to UCSF have been very different.
‘You’re a case study’
For Julin, it began when she was taken to a group home at 10.
The Chandler, Ariz. native and her sister were removed from an abusive situation at home that landed both of her parents in prison for years. Julin’s mom was deported after completing her sentence because she was a legal immigrant without U.S. citizenship.
“I just kind of pretended like stuff didn’t happen when I was in a group home as a coping mechanism,” she said.
They were there for three years before going back to live with Julin’s father, who was saddled with the challenges of financially supporting his family after his release from prison.
“Once my father regained custody, he was a devoted father. He lost a good job because of prison,” she said. “He almost lost the house. He had to take a trash job. He was making $30,000 a year supporting three kids and his incarcerated wife, while juggling ongoing legal fees related to court cases. The financial struggles were pervasive, and limited our opportunities. My father was stigmatized from being able to earn a decent living because he had a prison record. He carried that shame and it hurt to see that.”
That related disgrace can last a lifetime, Julin added.
“I’m a strong person, but there’s still stigma and shame associated with being a foster kid,” she said. “When I talk to people now, they say, ‘You’re a statistic. You’re a case study.’”
Fueled by her experience, Julin obtained two undergraduate degrees and a master’s degree in addition to starting a career outside of health care before coming to UCSF.
“For me, going to school and having a career was my main focus as the only way to escape my situation” she said. “When kids leave the foster system, it can go one of two ways. You can be like me where you turn on blinders and choose success as a driver. That’s what I did.”
Read the complete story on the UCSF News website.