Joshua is a 17-year old who just completed high school, becoming one of the first three graduates ever of Friends of the Children – Tampa Bay. Joshua was matched with a long-term, professional mentor—called a Friend—12 years ago when the chapter started and when he was a rising first grader. 

“I’ve gotta get ready for the real world,” says Joshua with a big laugh. He’s focused on his future, attending Brewster Technical College in Tampa Bay, then building a career around his love of cars. 

When he first met with his Friend Justin, he was working through a difficult time. Joshua and his three siblings were in foster care, and they weren’t always placed together. At school he was acting out—hiding under desks and flipping trash cans.

“Justin was my safe place, and he allowed me to speak without judgement. That’s when I found my voice,” says Joshua. “He taught me how to express my feelings without being physical.”

The two of them went to the park together to throw the football and hang out. They worked on school assignments and had discussions about everything. Justin was the consistent presence Joshua needed in his life, and his school behavior improved as the two built trust.

After five years in foster care, the family was reunited.

As is common for youth in the program, in high school Joshua transitioned to a new Friend named Markus-Derek. This change was a chance to expand his network of support.

“As I got to know, Mr. Marcus, I found out that he is a very good dude—he has a lot of structure. And his love for music is amazing to me,” says Joshua. “What I learned from Mr. Marcus is don’t judge a book by its cover.”

“Joshua’s struggle was real, but so was his strength,” says Markus-Derek. “He didn’t just graduate, he overcame.” 

The stress of school and life often made Joshua want to quit. But he had support, like his mother’s little quotes he heard every single day: “Can’t isn’t in a man’s vocabulary” and “a diamond isn’t a diamond without extreme pressure at high temperatures.”

“I saw that no matter how difficult life is, we all have the same 24 hours. And I still have to fight so I can be great in life,” says Joshua.

“This was a hard fight,” says Joshua’s mother. “I don’t want foster care to ever hinder Joshua in life. I want my kids to take their past and make it part of their own story. I don’t want him to ever be just another statistic.” 

Joshua’s mother says both of Joshua’s Friends provided her son a male figure to help show him who he could be. She’s glad that he keeps up with them both. 

“I’m honored to be a part of Friends of the Children, because they helped me through my journey and have continued to be a part of my life.