Willie Jones signs a letter of intent to run track for Brevard College. Jones is a keynote speaker at Celebration of Dreams, an annual event honoring graduates from the foster care system. 

When Willie Jones was 3 years old, he was abandoned by his biological mother. When he was 6 years old, his father died after a long battle with cancer. 

He continued to live with his stepmother, but because there were several other children in the home, his needs were not met. So he started running away. He came into the agency’s custody at 15. 

And now, at 18 years old, despite all of the hardships, he has dreams of running in the Olympics.   

Positive attitude keeps him going
“I can honestly say I have no regrets,” Jones said, after being asked if he’d change anything about his childhood. “At the time of some of my decisions, I felt some of them were pretty stupid, but needed mistakes. Mistakes that have shaped me into the person I am today. I feel I’ve learned from each mistake, so they can’t be considered regrets – only lessons. 

“(Not having my parents around) really doesn’t bother me and really hasn’t since I was a little child,” he continued. “My mom is a great woman, but she has a lot on her plate and I realized at a young age every bit helps, so I kind of slowly started taking care of myself.” 

A major reason for Jones’ success since being placed in JFS custody is because he was placed in Choice Inc.’s Independent Living Program.  

“After coming into our custody at 15, he was placed in the Semi-Independent Living Program for several months,” said Monica Middleton, Jones’ Independent Living worker at JFS (pictured above with Jones). “He displayed a level of maturity and determination, so at the age of 16 he was moved to the Independent Living Program.” 

Program prepares teens for independence
Independent Living is a federal program that began in 1989. The law requires HCJFS to assess every foster child at age 16 to help establish a permanency plan for that child’s future. Although the law does not require it, HCJFS trains foster children in independent living skills, beginning at age 16.  

The training prepares them for living on their own, which, for many, is the unfortunate, but necessary reality. Training includes daily living skills, referrals for education, training or employment, relationship development, and tactics for connecting with community services. 

“Since I’ve entered the program, I’ve felt really proud of myself,” Jones said. “I never realized how much the little things counted and how proud you feel when you accomplish something. Such as buying a loaf of bread – normally people wouldn’t care about it, but being able to say you bought it with your hard-earned money is great.” 

He wasn’t too thrilled about being in the agency’s custody at first though. 

“I hated it personally,” he said. “The whole idea was great in concept; being a teenager with your own place, that is. But I understood the great responsibility behind it. I figured I could do it because I was pretty independent before, but I knew it would be hard.” 

It may have been hard, but the outcome was worth all of the work. Jones will graduate from Walnut Hills High School this spring and has accepted an athletic scholarship to Brevard College, a small liberal arts college in western North Carolina.  

“We went on two trips to North Carolina in the past few months to meet with coaches and tour the campuses of two schools near Asheville, North Carolina,” Middleton said. “He runs cross country and track at Walnut Hills. He received other offers for athletic scholarships to run for a few other colleges, but made the choice to go to Brevard for the academic program that the school offers, which is the Wilderness Leadership and Experimental Program.” 

Charting a course to the Olympics
Jones will start at Brevard College in the fall, but those are not his only future plans. 

“I have a lot of plans for the future, but my more important plans are to go to the Olympics for track, become a successful person in my field so I can help save the environment and to help send my siblings to college,” he said. “Hopefully, in 2012, I’ll be in the Olympics and I’ll be able to establish larger networks so I can accomplish my goals.” 

The 18-year-old realizes that while he did do a lot on his own, it was great to have a support system if he needed them. 

“I don’t think words could express how much I appreciate their help,” he said. “Since I’ve entered this program there have been so many people who have helped me on my journey to success.  

“A few names are the Hagertys, Sandy Hacker, Deirdre Reid Coleman, Robert Bruce (with Choices), Monica Middleton, Vickie Jones, the Bankstons, Ms. Ferrell, Tanya Ficklin and my biological family,” he continued. “There have been a lot of others, but these are the few people I really appreciate and consider my family. Thank you a lot and I love every single one of you to death.” 

Middleton shares those same feelings about Jones. 

“He is a highly motivated young man who deserves recognition,” she said. “He is a real joy to work with and these kinds of things keep me motivated at this job. He is an extraordinary kid.”