|
Hi I'm Shirley Diaz. I'm 19 years old and I was raised in Brooklyn and Queens. I’m a system child, meaning a foster child and I’m soon going to age out. I love to talk about life and different experiences one faces through their journey. My dream is to become an entertainer. I love to sing and dance and act. I love to write and even want to write a book. My other goal is to graduate and get my GED. I currently live in Astoria, Queens in the projects were people always play basket ball or create dances and do shows. Also, I can swing on the swing in the park for hours and never get tired.
Story Description: Growing Up in The System
Shirley Diaz’s life has been shaped by the tragedy of her mother’s murder, and the difficulty of growing up in six different foster homes, separated from her six younger siblings. To avoid being consumed by loss, Shirley tries to make sense of these events and find refuge in home and family as she finds them.
Awards
In October 2008, Shirley's story won the Third Coast International Audio Festival's Silver Award for Best Documentary.
Listen to her acceptance speech.
|
