Recent Stanford Alum: Homeless

I was placed in foster care in LA County at the age of 14. Immediately, i felt a deep conviction to change the foster care system for others like me. And that's what I've been trying to do ever since at the cost of my own mental health. Getting straight A's was my personal sense of self esteem at my 3 high schools, so it was a surprise to few people that I got into Stanford University, restricted early action, in winter of 2011. At Stanford I was THE overachiever among overachievers. I majored in Human Biology, with an emphasis on Adolescent Development. Ultimately,I graduated with a 3.9 GPA, with an Honors Thesis on protective factors among young parents in foster care. I am also Phi Beta Kappa. Truly, the energizer bunny didn't want to stop. After a gap year as a John Gardner fellow the at the National Center for Youth Law in Oakland, I packed my bags to attend the number one public health school in the country: Johns Hopkins. Two weeks into my time in Baltimore, instead of buying books for my upcoming masters program, I was checking myself into a voluntary psychiatric hold at the School's hospital. Since then I have been in and out of three hospitals and have had to drop out of school for the year, without knowing what my future entails. Today, about a year and three months after speaking at my Stanford graduation, I am without my own bed. I am back in California, seeking stability of both the physical and mental. Please help provide me peace of mind over the next three months as I learn more about myself and my new psychiatric diagnosis. I plan to return to the Bay and live off of a $2600 budget a month, including rent. I am therefore asking a total of $7,800. Anything you can give, a share especially, is much appreciated!! Once I am back on my feet, I plan to help so many other current and former foster youth. Please help me help others!Much Love,Jo