My foster niece, Desirae Cardenas, has been accepted into a study abroad program at Oxford, England for the upcoming Spring Semester of 2026! I am so proud and excited for her. Although she is thrilled about this unique educational opportunity, this amazing young woman does not have the funds to finance it.

Desirae’s ultimate career goal is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). The first step toward that goal is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The classes offered in the Oxford program—such as Women in American Society, Cultural Anthropology, History of Britain from 1714, and Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft—will contribute directly to the requirements for her degree while also inspiring her personal and academic growth. These courses will also help her expand her worldview and deepen her understanding of people and cultures.

Having grown up in the foster care system since infancy, Desirae has developed a strong sense of compassion and care for others, as well as an appreciation for the often unacknowledged but vital roles women play in families, schools, workplaces, and communities. Her longtime social worker, who supported her throughout her childhood and teenage years, serves as a powerful example of this influence—making Desirae especially excited to take the Women in American Society course. In 2019 she received the Sierra Madre Women's Club Merit Award for overcoming adversity. In 2021 Desirae received the Certificate of Resilience from the CIS Academy.

Despite facing many challenges and traumatic events (such as losing her childhood foster parents, and evacuating from her home during the Eaton Fire), Desirae has managed to push forward. Moreover, DCFS had to remove her from an unsafe environment, after which she came to her current foster mother's home. As traumatic as her childhood was, Desirae feels that her experiences have helped her develop resilience, maturity, and empathy beyond her years. Most recently, she has been caring for her foster mother - whom she has now lived with for nearly seven years—after a serious car accident. Her foster mother’s strength, tenacity, and advocacy for both of her children continue to inspire Desirae as she pursues her educational and professional goals.