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Katlyn entered foster care at the age of 16. She was in two placements over this time: a shelter for over a month and a home with 7 teenage girls and two birth children under the age of 12. Katlyn moved out of the home at 17 when she graduated early from high school. Katlyn says of her time in care, “Foster care has been very life changing and though it has been a rough experience, overall I feel it has had many positive aspects and they continue coming. I feel that my relationships with my friends have become stronger bonds. Within the system there are many people who are willing to help and have devoted their lives to making other’s lives better. And I am lucky enough to have been supported by many of those people.” Katlyn is currently enrolled at Butte College while also working. Her education goals are to complete her general education requirements within a year and transfer to a CSU to obtain a degree in Social Work and Sociology and possibly a Criminal Justice minor. After college Katlyn would like to work in Social Services, working one-on-one with youth. Katlyn has accomplished an amazing amount of volunteer and advocacy work for someone so young. She began public speaking at the age of 17 to advocate for foster youth, including appearances on NPR Radio, NBC 24 Local Chico News and in front of legislators. Katlyn is on the Butte County ILP Advisory Board Youth Board, has been a mentor for young troubled foster youth, and has volunteered her lifeguarding skills to foster youth and foster families.