For Dennis Saenz, music is an escape from the troubling memories of his childhood.
At age 20, Saenz plays the viola, flute and piano. He performs in the American River College Vocal Jazz Ensemble while pursuing a degree in music.
His dream is to become a musical therapist and help those who have experienced significant life trauma. It’s a vision born out of his own troubled past and subsequent healing through music.
Five years ago, Saenz was swept from his father into the foster care system, where he was shifted between group homes and foster families. It was in these environments that he began to heal from the trauma of his childhood, but, even so, he found the tasks of daily living to be a challenge.
“To not have clothes or food readily available, or a loving parent there for me as a child – it wasn’t really fair, to be honest,” Saenz said. “Before being placed into the foster system, I couldn’t function on my own or in a family setting. It was that bad.”
That Saenz has made it this far is due to not only his own resilience and perseverance, but to the support of Aspiranet, a nonprofit group that provides services for current and former foster youths as they transition toward independence.
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