Transcript: From foster care to forensic psychology, Kay's story of transformation

[The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation logo and CIBC Foundation logo are in the upper right of the entire video.]

[Inside. Close-up view of Kay sitting in front of the camera in a library wearing a cream-coloured cardigan. The background is blurry.]

[On-screen text: TELUS Momentum Student Bursary recipient, powered by CIBC Foundation]

>> Kay: I grew up in Jamaica, and I came to Canada when I was 13 years old because my mom lived here, and she decided that it would be better to emigrate to be with her.

[Kay is looking at childhood photos at a table.]

It was very hard leaving everything that I grew up to know behind. And, me and my mother, our relationship was extremely strained.

[Kay appears a distance from the camera, sitting at a table in the library by herself, looking off in the distance.]

And then a year after emigrating, she decided that it was too much for her. So I was placed into foster care at 14.

[Kay is looking through her childhood photos.]

It was very heartbreaking. I had no one. I'm going to cry.

[We see Kay driving a car.]

Throughout high school, I actually struggled immensely and I was always labeled as the bad kid.

[We see Kay walking towards the camera wearing a black puffy winter coat. She appears to be on a school campus.]

When I began university, I had an evaluation done and it was discovered that I have dyslexia. I always knew that I was capable of doing the work. I just didn't understand why I always struggled.

[Kay sits with her social worker at an outside table at a café drinking from take-out cups.]

During foster care, I found support systems. I met my social worker, Jacqueline. Meeting Jacqueline and getting that support from her meant a lot to me.

[Kay and Jacqueline are outside and hug goodbye.]

She always said, Kay you need to go to school. Kay, you're very smart.

[Kay and Jacqueline pull away from their hug, smiling.]

And because of her, I pursued my education. I'm studying forensic psychology with a minor in criminology because my career goal is to become a forensic pathologist.

[Kay is walking along a sidewalk, there is snow on the ground. She is wearing a black puffy winter jacket and she is walking beside a man who is wearing a long winter coat and a baseball cap.]

While attending university, I also work full time as a developmental support worker. I work with adults that have dual diagnosis, such as autism and schizophrenia.

[Kay is walking outside, there is snow on the ground and she is wearing her black winter jacket. She is carrying a drink in a take-out cup and a plastic container of muffins.]

As someone that was in the foster care system, I love reminding people who are marginalized that they are valued.

[Kay is outside, walking and smiling. Behind her we see a building with the words Ontario Tech University.]

I balance work and school the best that I can.

[Kay speaks to the camera back in the library, wearing headphones as she looks at index cards.]

I work my 40 hours in three days, and then I spend the next four days focusing on my studies.

[Kay is sitting at a desk in the library in front of a laptop.]

The day that I received the TELUS Momentum Student Bursary, I was actually at work and I let out a scream.

[Kay is in a room, looking down at her phone, with a big smile.]

It was very exciting to see that I was being heard and my story did matter.

[Kay is outside, wearing her winter jacket, looking directly at the camera, smiling.]

I think that I've beat the odds as a foster kid with a learning disability, attending university, making the President's and Dean's list.

[We see Kay walking past library stacks of books and then walking down between the stacks.]

TELUS Momentum Student Bursary helps me to focus on my future and remind me that even though I don't have all the supports, I have people at TELUS that are supportive of my future.

[Kay pulls a book off the shelf as we see her through the shelf.]

[Kay walks on campus, looking off in the distance, smiling.]

[On-screen text: Together with CIBC Foundation, we're proud to fund the Momentum Student Bursary.]

[We see Kay back on campus, smiling directly at the camera.]

[On-screen text: It's part of our joint $2M commitment to unlock access to education and career pathways for young Black leaders.]

[The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation logo and CIBC Foundation logo appear in the middle of the screen above the text.]

[On-screen text: Help us support more deserving youth like Kay at friendlyfuture.com/donate]