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Cedric

I am Cedric Riley, an adopted teen. My experience throughout the process of foster care placement and adoption has been life defining. My birth mother was a 19-year-old woman who would bear four children after me. Her inability to provide stability for her children resulted in a poverty-stricken environment for my siblings and I. The struggles we faced seemed interminable. I often wondered "Why me?" as I prayed for a better life. By the time I had reached 6th grade our hardship became evident to our school counselors and an investigation was launched on my household. Authorities removed us from our condemned home in a matter of 48 hours. We were divided by gender then placed in two separate foster homes. From this point, October of 1999, I lived in five different foster homes. Each time my two brothers and I settled, something went wrong and forced us to relocate. Sometimes the culprit was abuse by the foster parent; other times, behavioral problems on our behalf. After several years in the foster care system, I was adopted - the best thing ever to happen to me. I became a part of a family that supported my goals and ambitions. The family molded me into a successful student with a productive skill set. Today I am a student and a motivational speaker. I have dedicated my life to making a difference in the lives of today’s youth by providing hope and encouragement through my life story. I will make a difference!