Derek Clark

It can be difficult for youth with Crown Ward status to attend post secondary school without the support of family.

 

But groups such as the Children’s Aid Society and the Northern Ontario Crown Ward Education Championship Team, are working together to enhance those opportunities.

 

They held an event today (Tuesday) at Nipissing University and Canadore College in which students and foster parents were provided information on achieving success in school and transitioning successfully into post secondary.

Student Kelsey Morin says being on your own is a huge challenge for students.

Morin says through the support services she has gone back to school and has applied at three university’s including Nipissing.

 

Derek Clark, a world-renowned speaker, author and well known as the “Rapping Dad” on YouTube, gave the speech.

 

Clark says youth with Crown Ward status have a difficult time getting there, but he uses his own life to illustrate it can be accomplished.

 

He says he spent 13 years in the foster care system in San Francisco.

Clark says his message is, it takes a lot of hard work but in the end it’s worth it.

 

written by matthew.sookram@northbayradio.rogers.com