Fresh Starts, Fresh Cuts: Cali’s Story of Resilience

A fresh haircut can change someone’s whole mood — and Cali, one of RightWay’s determined participants, is turning that belief into her career as a barber. RightWay gifted her a barber toolkit a few months ago, and we are so ecstatic to see Cali succeed on her journey to being a barber.

Cali decided to take on this journey because she adored the idea of making others feel confident about themselves and she was always good with working with her hands and being creative.

As soon as she completed her Barber One certificate, Cali quickly reached out to RightWay to share the great news. “It was a real milestone for me because it showed that all the hard work I put in is paying off,” said Cali.

But behind that milestone was a lot of persistence. Although she successfully completed the first step on her journey, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Cali had to face many obstacles and the hardest part for her was staying consistent and focused, especially when her life outside of school became stressful. She overcame this by focusing on the bigger picture and leaning on friends who believed in her.

What kept her going was remembering that barbering is about more than just a cut. “Barbering isn’t just about hair,” said an excited Cali, “it’s about connecting with clients, listening to them, and making them feel comfortable.” Through this experience Cali has been able to step out of her comfort zone and strengthen her people skills and that is something she takes great pride in!

That growth reflects her deeper motivation, which comes from wanting a better future for herself and the people she cares about. “I want to be independent, have a career I’m proud of, and show others that no matter where you start, you can create something good for yourself.” This statement just showcases the resilience of our participants and how they are able to turn their pain into power!

Transition-age foster youth just need support and here at The RightWay Foundation, we provide that familial support that they need. In Cali’s case she is beyond thankful for the financial and emotional support we provided to help keep her on track. “Knowing that there are people who want me to see me succeed has made a huge difference in my journey.”

Stories like Cali’s remind us why RightWay exists — to help foster youth turn dreams into careers. Just like a fresh cut can change someone’s mood, support can change a young person’s future.