Kayla VanDyke
Eagan, MN.

Kayla is a passionate, driven young woman who sees herself as an introvert. Between the ages of four and sixteen, she had been in 7 different foster homes. Having come from a low income, abusive family she was separated from her mother and 2 siblings. At the age of seven, she was returned to her family and lived in a homeless shelter. Over the next 2 years, the economic and emotional stability of her family worsened and by age thirteen she found herself under foster care once again. While she hated to be separated from her siblings, Kayla has said that being in foster care at least gave her the assurance there would be food on the table. She no longer worried about going to bed hungry. At 16 years of age Kayla was placed in her final foster home; one that she still considers "home" today. Her foster parents have provided permanency and acceptance allowing Kayla to grow and flourish into the beautiful individual she is today.

Kayla has a love for different cultures and likes to surround herself with people who think "outside the box". She is currently attending Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and is focusing on an under-graduate degree in Anthropology. Once she graduates she plans to apply for a fellowship with the Smithsonian Institute. Eventually she would like to go to graduate school and focus on the Modernization of Indigenous Peoples. At some point in her busy schedule, she would also like to join the Peace Corps. It is clear that Kayla has a vision and that she is working diligently to make it happen.