Junior
Cameron Galloway has spent the majority of his life in and out of foster care and he truly wants to see improvements in the system.
Galloway, who spent time in five different foster homes during his four years of high school, had the opportunity to speak in front of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee about House Bill 158. He has been in and out of foster care since the age of two.
The foster child "bill of rights" recently took a step closer to becoming law as the Kentucky State voted 36-0 to pass the measure. It was approved by the House, 99-0. It will give certain rights for the Kentucky children in foster care and other out-of-home car placements. The bill would bring the state of Kentucky into compliance with the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018.
One of those bill of rights, according to Galloway, would allow the child to stay in one school district and enable them to choose whether they participate in extracurricular activities.
Despite attending three different high schools – McCracken County, Paducah Tilghman and North Hardin – he graduated with a 2.7 grade point average and was able to excel on the track. However, it wasn't without the challenges. Galloway discussed how the educational gaps on moving schools in the middle of the school year caused very stressful moments.
"It was very hard in foster care," said Galloway. "Once you move from one home to another, you then cut off your feelings and stop allowing other build a relationship with you. In your mind, you know you are just there for a second."
Once he arrived on the Kentucky State University campus, he noticed the ability to begin allowing people to break down his barriers.
He credits the KSU environment for some of those inner changes.
"It was just a different environment," said Galloway. "I hadn't been around black people that wanted to succeed in life. This environment allowed me to work on myself."
Galloway has jumped feet first in the Thorobreds experience, joining ROTC, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Baptist Christian Ministries and the Apostolic Lighthouse Ministries, in addition to his athletic commitments as a member of both the cross country and track & field team.
With the variety of organizations pulling at his time, Galloway learned the value of planning and organizing his time. This past semester, the junior posted a 3.8 GPA.
As the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships rapidly approaches, he is working to improve from his performances a season ago. Galloway placed third in the javelin, sixth in the 800 meter run, sixth in the 1500 meter run and then as a member of the 4x400 team that earned a fifth place finish.
With more than two semesters remaining, the social work major already has his part of his future mapped out. Once he graduates, Galloway will be a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Army and will spend six to eight years fulfilling his National Guard contract. He also plans on earning his Masters in social work, and he will work for the state for at least two years. Galloway plans on earning his Licensed Social Work and Clinical Social Work certificates as well.
It's clear to see that Galloway has made the best of his foster experience, and he is striving to ensure those that follow him have the best opportunity to do the same.
"Every foster youth experience isn't the same," said Galloway. "For the most part, it brings a lot of challenges – good and bad. The good, you get the chance to better yourself. I wouldn't have been able to go to school for free. It teaches a different way of thinking. It makes you focus on the good in everything you go through.
"I wouldn't change my foster youth experience," Galloway continued. "I wouldn't change the different trials and tribulations."
