Mandalyn entered foster care at 16 years old after her father threatened to kill her. This occurred after she was removed from her mother’s home due to her mother's addiction to methamphetamine. Mandalyn was bounced around from kin to friends to foster homes and was even homeless at times. Despite a father who pulled her out of school in 8th grade, and never staying in one school for more than a year and a half, Mandalyn persevered. She overcame a caseworker who told her she was too dramatic for a family setting, 6 psychiatric hospitals, and a disinterested lawyer. Mandalyn herself said it best, “don’t subject yourself to what your file says.” She was told she was a lost cause, but Mandalyn is currently finishing high school and working at TRAC running the youth leadership committee, with college on the horizon. 

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Credits:

Interviewee: Mandalyn Finley

Editor: Soheil Abdmousavi

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or posiiton of SMU or the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation.