Unloved and unwanted, Aren wound up in foster care at a very early age. By the time she was 12, Aren was living on the streets. She slept in cars or any other place she could find. Imagine being 12 with no safe place to sleep.

For us, it's hard to imagine reaching rock bottom. But for a hungry, frightened 12-year-old without the guidance of caring adults in her life, Aren did what she thought she needed to do to stay alive.

When Aren finally decided to take control of her life, it was a testament to the fact that most kids, deep down inside, are innately good. "I wanted to get my life back," Aren told us when she arrived at Covenant House. "I knew that was only going to happen if I changed myself and the way I lived."

Aren fit in quickly here and got along well with the other girls and boys. Most importantly for her, she responded warmly to the assistance and suggestions of our staff about where she could go from here. She was determined to make important changes in her life, but she just needed that little push in the right direction and a caring voice that said she could do it.

"I was surprised at how supportive people are here," she told us. "I had stayed at other shelters before. They'd give you a bed and something to eat, but nobody ever cared about me as a person. It's different here. People here really care about you."

Aren made great strides while she stayed with us. She went back to school to earn her GED. And when she was ready, we also helped her look for work. In just a few months, she found a job and saved up enough money for her own apartment.

"Without Covenant House, I wouldn't be where I am now," she said. "I'd probably be on the streets, or jail, or even dead." Today, Aren is looking forward eagerly to the future. "I feel blessed," she told us recently. "I want to go to law school so I can help people the same way I was helped. I want to do things for the community. I want to give back."

Looking at the smiling, confident young lady she is today, it's almost impossible to see her as the scared, desperate girl who first knocked on our door. At Covenant House, our commitment to take in every child who comes to us is just the beginning of our job. We do the best we can to provide the emotional stability and guidance to help our kids find the source of their own confidence.