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When she was 16-years-old, she lived in the Austin Children\u2019s Center. There, she realized she needed to knuckle down and get serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cI realized that I was going to age out soon, and all I had was myself,\u201d Allen said. \u201cI knew I had to get to work and focus on college.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the help of her high school teachers, Allen was able to finish high school and enroll in Austin Community College in 2015. By the time she transferred to Texas State, she only had to complete four semesters to earn her undergraduate degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely challenging, living in a shelter and trying to get into college,\u201d Allen said. \u201cBut I was responsible about everything, and the supportive services I was getting from caseworkers and teachers made it easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her support system included Eloise Hudson<\/strong>, Allen\u2019s court appointed special advocate from age 12 to 16. Hudson advocated for Allen as she navigated between placements while still attending school. She would also provide a sense of normalcy for Allen, taking her out to activities and spending time with her.<\/p>\n \u201cI honestly cannot believe how far she has come in life, but that is Ronika, always proving that she can do what she puts her mind to,\u201d Hudson said. \u201cShe has had help, guidance and support along the way, but she has accomplished so much because she made the decision that she wanted a better life for herself then what was being offered.\u201d<\/p>\n Recently, Allen was asked to speak at a statewide conference for the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).<\/a> A naturally shy person, Allen was nervous, but she shared her story about her experiences in foster care and how CASA helped her through.<\/p>\n