Her own struggle helps former foster child guide similar students through crisis situations

EL PASO — Once a foster child herself, Jessica Archuleta now helps former foster children achieve their goals of stability and higher education. “Living through the foster care system didn’t define me. It didn’t get me where I was today,” said Archuleta, now an outreach specialist in the Foster, Homeless and Adopted Resource (FHAR) program at the University of Texas at El Paso. “It was my own experiences in life and how I dealt with them. Realizing that helped me realize I wanted to help other people in their experiences and give them a positive outlook.” Archuleta says she and her brother were placed in child crisis centers more than 20 times.

A glimpse into foster care reaffirms her will to make a difference

EL PASO, Texas — Growing up, I thought having my parents split-up was the most devastating event in my life. My grades in school took a downward slope as I knew my life would never be “normal” again. I would wake up in the mornings knowing that one parent would drop me off at school and the other would be there to pick me up. I knew I had two places to call home and that my time spent at each one had to be considerate of the other. The idea of a split family was a horrible one nonetheless, but a survivable one for sure.