Daniel

Daniel entered the system at seven, after the adults in his life made a series of choices he did not have the vocabulary to understand at the time. He has been in three placements since. The current one, a transitional group home, has lasted the longest.

A caseworker in his last placement gave him an old laptop. Daniel taught himself Python from YouTube tutorials at night. Something about the way code did exactly what you told it to — no more, no less — felt like the first kind of control he had ever had.

Daniel writes. He keeps a notebook of ideas for short stories and half-finished apps. He's careful with his words and fiercely loyal to the younger kids in his house. He is also tired, sometimes, in a way a sixteen-year-old shouldn't be.

Graduate high school. Get into a community college, then a four-year. Learn to drive. Work, save, and mentor the kids coming up behind him.

Tutoring closes the academic gaps years of upheaval created. College prep and life-skills programs turn "someday" into "next year." A little support now compounds for the rest of his life.