Cedric Riley will never forget the moment he made a decision that would change the course of his life forever. 

He had lost his way while taking a walk in Forest Park during a visit with his potential adoptive mom. It was 10 p.m. There were no street lights, a strange setting for a 14-year-old outside of inner-city Cleveland for only the second time in his life. 

The thought of gaining closure on a past that included placement in six foster homes over eight years weighed heavily in the decision. The idea of parlaying his experience into a message of hope for foster and adoptive parents and those who serve them contributed heavily to his gut feeling: Give the go-ahead for Yolanda Riley to adopt him.

Yolanda, then 32 and single with no children, was the daughter of his foster mother of two years in Cuyahoga County.

“Adoption was the single most important choice I have ever made, and it has meant more to me and my successes than any plaque or material gift,” Cedric said. “I sleep well because I was adopted.” 

Cedric racked up a number of accomplishments in less than two years at Winton Woods High School. While studying marketing at Ohio State University, he has carved out a niche as a motivational speaker. He has spoken to groups at State Houses in Maine and Ohio as well as Time Square and Hamilton, Franklin and Cuyahoga counties. He has done radio spots and appeared on talk shows.

Maggie Owens, the Hamilton County Children’s Services worker who helped facilitate the adoption process, remembers the six-month period in 2003-2004 well. Owens recalls Cedric’s maturity as he weighed issues such as leaving a girlfriend and a school he loved. She remembers Yolanda’s readiness to adopt. 

“She was willing to take an older child, one about half her age,” said Owens, now an adoption manager in Children’s Services. “They just really hit it off -- and she did everything she could for him. She was really dedicated. She took on a huge responsibility at a young age. And he came and got acclimated immediately. They were pretty remarkable.” 

Owens began regular visits and phone conversations with Yolanda in August 2003. In the first meeting, Yolanda expressed an interest in adopting Cedric, who resided in her mother’s foster home in Cuyahoga County. All four of Cedric’s siblings had been adopted, including two girls by her aunt. Yolanda’s mother had made Cedric’s mother aware of her daughter’s intention to adopt Cedric. 

“She stated that Cedric is a gifted student and takes classes at Cleveland State University,” Owens said. “She said this may pose a problem as far as his education is concerned, but more than anything he wants to be adopted.” 

Over the next three months, Cedric’s Children’s Services worker in Cleveland expressed concern about taking him out of an accelerated program. The “extremely intelligent” teen was expected to earn an associate’s degree in a year. At one point, Yolanda considered moving to Cleveland to facilitate the adoption. At another juncture, Cuyahoga County suggested delaying the adoption until Cedric’s graduation in 2005. 

In November 2003, it was decided that Cedric would move to Cincinnati after the school semester ended. Owens worked closely with Yolanda and Cedric’s Cuyahoga County worker, suggesting a tour of Winton Woods High School and lining up Yolanda’s fingerprints, financial and medical forms, and list of references. Owens persistently tied up loose ends over the next two months. 

On Jan. 16, 2004, with paperwork completed and signed, plans were made for Cedric to come to Cincinnati and start school within two weeks. 

Owens conducted a home visit in February and found “Cedric is facing some challenges at his new school, but doing well.” In March, Owens learned during a visit that Cedric had been named Student of the Month. In May, Yolanda and Cedric reported that he had received many awards during an end-of-the-year banquet and was making plans to attend two camps at colleges.

Although Owens’ final home visit took place in June 2004 and the adoption was finalized on July 7 of that year, Yolanda continued to update the worker about Cedric’s amazing progress.

Cedric, a sophomore at Ohio State, is determined to become more than just another student.  He has made it his personal mission to give back as he forges ahead. 

“Cedric Riley is on a journey to inspire today’s youth and provide a source of encouragement to those who believe that their situation warrants sympathy, poor academic achievement, mediocrity, or even a life of crime,” according to his Web site (www.cedricriley.com). “Using his personal experiences as his muse, Cedric plans to touch the lives of many and enlighten those who wish to be enlightened.” 

The site lists a number of accomplishments, ranging from academic honors to community service awards and positions. He received more than $150,000 in scholarship offers.

Cedric’s talks center around taking ownership of your life, goal setting, educational achievement, giving back to those with common struggles, and achieving and defining personal goals. “Success is a choice, not only despite the things we go through in life, but because of the things that we go through in life,” he said.

His presentations cover topics such as making the choice to become adopted as a teen, coming to terms with birth-family issues, bonding with a new family, coping with separation from siblings, and defining oneself. They hit on issues such as resourcefulness, and overcoming rejection. They talk about taking an optimistic, proactive approach to create success and control your fate. They stress the importance of giving back.

“I have dedicated my life to making a difference in the lives of today's youth by providing hope and encouragement through my life story,” Cedric said. “It is my mission to address and enlighten youth, as well as professionals who work with youth.” 

He plans to accomplish that mission through the Success is a Choice Empowerment Program, which includes t-shirts, newsletters and a five-week curriculum created to demonstrate the choice individuals have to build their own success.