"I feel like ‘Stay 4’ is what gave me the extra push I needed to continue to pursue my education. They made me feel as though I was not alone and that I deserved a better future than the past I have lived. They did not judge me for the things I have been put through nor did they pity me in any way. They showed me that I can overcome the stereotypes and not be just another underprivileged child who falls to the statistic. They encouraged me to continue to grow into the person I am today and helped me when choosing Illinois State University as my school. This is where I have felt the most support and at home." 

-Ashley