Chayton’s Story: Building Skills to Achieve Dreams

Parenting is hard, even in the best of circumstances. The young parents we partner with in our Bright Beginnings program are learning how to parent while working towards stability, and often without much support. FamilyWise staff provide young parents with encouragement and practical guidance, helping them identify and work towards their goals. An example of this is Chayton’s story, which was recently shared by a member of our staff team. 

Chayton is a young father who was referred to FamilyWise when he was sentenced to one year in juvenile corrections facility. The first time our staff met with him, he shared his dreams of becoming an architect and a great father to his son. But when asked what steps he needed to take to achieve his goals, Chayton wasn’t sure. 

He was raised in a close-knit family on Red Lake Reservation where his grandmother had been a prominent member of the community. But, as Chayton shared, no one else in his family had really strived to do anything because of the label that society has put on Native Americans. He felt that people had low expectations of him, and those who wanted to support his dreams didn’t have the knowledge or experience to help him take steps to achieve them.  

Our staff teach young parents practical skills to build their professionalism, including how to create a strong resume, how to prepare for an interview – from what to wear to questions to ask – and how to find childcare so that youth can continue on educational and career paths.  

In weekly meetings, Chayton’s Family Specialist encouraged him to do research to grow his understanding of what he needs to learn to become an architect, and to find opportunities to learn from others in his correctional facility. Chayton did, and as a result of his commitment to studying, he is set to graduate earlier than expected. He changed his attitude and how he approached people and, as a result, people were willing to teach him.  

Our staff also provide emotional support when young people are discouraged. For some participants that may look like not getting a job they interviewed for because of a felony on their record. For Chayton, he experienced moments of self-doubt, saying things like “I can’t do this. I’m not smart enough.” His Family Specialist was there to remind him that he can do it, that even the smartest people need support from others, and that as long as he keeps reaching out to people for help, he’ll be fine. She also encouraged him to journal about his feelings to help him let go of what’s holding him back, and to remember that the more he supports himself, the more his child will thrive, too.  

Chayton has been working on teaching his son his native language by speaking to him in Ojibwe. At the suggestion of his Family Specialist, he researched and sent his son books about indigenous culture to support the child’s learning and development. The baby is too young to read, so the books provide a chance for the baby and his mother to read and learn together. His Family Specialist supports Chayton as he navigates co-parenting so that both parents are able to coordinate in how they nurture their son’s growth. 

His Family Specialist likens Chayton’s journey towards becoming an architect to his son’s journey of learning language. Just as Chayton is confident his son can learn and grow language skills, he should be confident that he can learn and grow into the career of his dreams. She celebrates his successes with him, reflecting that Chayton’s grandma would be proud of him for stepping out of his comfort zone to follow his dream.