This National Foster Care Month, we’re celebrating another graduating class of youth formerly in foster care at The University of Texas at Austin. Since 2016, our Spark program has helped students with foster care experience thrive on campus. Our team connects students with whatever they need—from housing and employment to essentials like food and school supplies.
We sat down with two graduating students, Rawan Albdeiri and Amber Fowler, to hear about their experience with the Spark program and advice for incoming students.
How have resources from the Spark program helped you?
Rawan Albdeiri (RA): I wasn’t a part of Spark until my 3rd and final year at UT, so I definitely can compare my college experience to what it was like before Spark to what it is now. My first few years were really tough, especially when it came to finding friends and connections with people on campus. I saw other students having a completely opposite experience from mine, and I felt alone.
Finding out about Spark during my final year has literally been a 180! I’ve found some of my best friends, and I have a support system that goes beyond the Spark program and into my future.
Amber Fowler (AF): The Spark program has been a consistent and meaningful source of support during my journey here. As a graduate student and mother of four with lived experience in foster care, my needs can be different from those of undergraduate students, but Spark has never made that a barrier. The financial assistance has helped me manage essential living expenses, and the availability of basic needs support—like hygiene items and housing resources—has provided peace of mind that allows me to focus on my academic work. Just knowing Spark is there, ready to support and advocate for me, has made a major difference in how I’ve been able to navigate higher education.
What has most helped you in your time at UT as a former foster youth?
RA: Definitely Tym [Belseth] and his constant and genuine care! He thinks of everything and is willing to exhaust every avenue and resource to help us when we need it.
AF: The sense of community and understanding I’ve found through Spark has been an impactful part of my experience. Being in a space where my background is acknowledged and embraced has made me feel seen and valued. Access to support and practical resources has helped me stay grounded as I teach, conduct research, and work toward my dissertation. The combination of community and care has been critical to my success at UT.
What advice do you have for youth in foster care who hope to pursue college?
RA: I would say hang on, because I started college hating it, but I powered through because I honestly had no other plan or path towards success. I stayed on this track because there was literally no other option for me. But as I progressed, I learned how to count my blessings and realized that I now have control of my life and happiness in a way that I didn’t in the past. Just hang on, and you’ll find your way.
AF: You are more capable than the systems around you might have led you to believe. Pursuing college is absolutely within your reach, and there are communities—like Spark—that exist to help you get there and thrive when you make it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; advocating for yourself is a strength, not a weakness. Find people and programs that truly understand your experience and can walk alongside you. You don’t have to do it alone, and your story is a powerful foundation for everything you’ll build.
What do you plan to pursue after graduation?
RA: Since I am graduating in three years instead of four, I’m using that extra year to be a teacher. After that, law school. I am hoping for Stanford Law.
AF: After completing my Ph.D., I plan to become a professor and researcher focused on early childhood education and educational equity. My goal is to produce scholarship that amplifies the voices of marginalized families—particularly Black mothers—and to help shape the next generation of educators with a deep sense of justice and care. I also want to mentor students from foster care and other underrepresented backgrounds so they can see themselves reflected in higher education and know they belong.
Want to learn more about the Spark program and find ways to get involved? Check out our website.
