Tyondra Newton grew up in and out of foster homes. Last year, when she turned 18, she moved into transitional living. Even now, she's reconciling how she grew up. Newton was first moved from her mother's home into foster care at age 2.
Among the issues still confronting her: the desire to have a home, and to help others; and the threat -- often voiced by her foster parents -- that Newton would someday follow the same tumultuous path as her mother.
Newton discussed those ideas with her youth counselor, Sally Nixon, who brought her to the StoryCorps mobile recording booth when it came to Minneapolis.
Earlier this year, Newton's mother passed away. Recently, Newton found her own apartment in St. Paul; she has also begun her training to become a nursing assistant.
Excerpts from the StoryCorps oral history project can be heard every Friday on 'Morning Edition'. This week, the mobile booths are in Memphis, Tenn., and Portland, Oregon.
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