One Fostering Youth Independence member and College of the Canyons student has found strength through community bonds, pushing her to follow her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher.

Sabrina Magro, 20, believes that becoming an elementary school teacher is the best way to help children who need support, and has been encouraged to do so by her Fostering Youth Independence community.  

“I feel it is the closest way to reach out to them.” Magro said. ”Me and my siblings were put in the system. and I saw how we were overlooked and I feel like kids need advocates.”

Fostering Youth Independence is a Santa Clarita nonprofit organization seeking to improve the chances of success for former foster children who have aged out of the program.

 The program works by partnering the young adults, usually between the ages of 18 and 24, with an “ally” who supports them emotionally as they go through higher education and find a career.

 “We saw a need to help these kids,” said Carolyn Olsen, executive director and co-founder of Fostering Youth Independence, in a previous KHTS interview. “There’s a lot of resources for them to be able to continue their education without any parental support, but it’s very difficult for them to do that.”

 Related Story: Fostering Youth Independence Member Speaks To Her Accomplishments, Goals For The Future

 Becoming a teacher would allow Magro to use her classroom as a safe space for her students, she said.

 “I can be advocates for all my students,” she said.

Magro is the organization’s first member to pair with a Fostering Youth Independence ally. She has been paired with hospital volunteer Debbie Abramson since 2017.

Margo said her and Abramson have built a bond over the past year, slowly strengthening their relationship as they grew to trust one another.

“Debbie’s like my best friend now.” Magro said. “I was a bit ‘iffy’ when I first met Debbie because it’s hard for me to trust people, but she’s proven to me that she could be there for me and I’m always texting her. Whenever something is wrong, I’m always texting her, or she’ll text me randomly, ‘I hope your day is going good’” Magro said.

Abramson said she wanted to be a part of the program from the first time she heard about it.

“When I heard about the program, I instantly knew it was something that I wanted to be a part of.” Abramson said. I thought it was fantastic…and I literally asked if I could be a part, because I think it’s just important what they’re doing.”

Abramson encouraged professionals in the Santa Clarita Valley interested in helping the next generation to apply as allies.

 “(Don’t) be intimidated by it or think that (you) don’t have anything to offer, because I had never done it before,” she said. “But it really is just caring about another individual and just making some time to be with them. It just brings me a lot of joy, and I think I’m pretty lucky that I got to have (worked) with somebody like (Magro).”

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