By Colleen Connolly, The Imprint, June 3, 2021
Abbe Desai wants to be a teacher or maybe a flight attendant someday. At age 19, she’s still trying to figure it out. But while her future career is undecided, her path to get there, starting at Ridgewater College in central Minnesota, isall mapped out,and — as is the case for many of her peers raised in foster care — it’s a long and difficult journey.
Desai takes classes in both global studies and liberal arts to keep her options open. She also works full time, cobbling together two jobs as a home health aide and delivery person for Instacart and DoorDash as she earns enough credits to transfer to the University of Minnesota, where she hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree.
But it will take her longer than four years, largely due to the cost. As a former foster youth, Desaidoes not have family to lean on for financial — or emotional — support while she navigates the world of higher education.
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