“Through the Tunnel” Foster Youth Initiation

Even though they don’t have to swim through a tunnel like Jerry in “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, foster youth are initiated into the foster care system once they are taken and placed into the system. Most people like me were really unprepared. Being taken away from my family was the most life changing experience both negative and positive. There are certain things that I when through first feeling helpless, and lonely. Second after feeling lonely, was feeling unaccepted and un-normal wanting nothing more but to feel normal. Third lost and that is when the anger comes feeling like your family does not want you. Feeling that no one wants you and the anger comes through the pain of feeling neglected. As a result of this initiation, good things can come from it. New relationships can form and you can begin to see you’re self differently, as a positive person who can accomplish anything. After people get past the wanting to be normal and get passed the feeling of neglect they have official been initiated and once they accept that, they can turn it around and change their ways.