Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The foster care system isn't supposed to be a permanent situation, but some children in Utah have spent most of their life in state custody waiting for adoption. That's the case with Jasmine.
16-year-old Jasmine prefers to keep her head buried in a book.
"I love homework. I'm a nerd and I love homework," she said.
She's been in the foster care system since se was 7. She's had to learn to adapt because her living situation often changes.
"I'm frustrated but mostly upset because I've never had a family," she said.
But through all the difficult times, Jasmine has held onto a major career goal in nursing.
"I love helping people," Jasmine said. "It's a good feeling, and I've always wanted to be a nurse."
On Wednesday, Jasmine got the change to help out at a health care clinic. She showed up and already looking the part in her own scrubs.
The nurses on staff taught her how to take blood-pressure readings and temperature and to listen for a heartbeat.
"This is awesome," she said.
Jasmine says she loves taking care of people, because she hopes someone will do the same for her.
She says she feels "unadoptable" because of her age, but she's working on thinking positively.
Jasmine finds comfort writing poetry, singing, dancing and focusing on her hopes for the future.
"It's really important, " she said. "I've always wanted to achieve major goals, but it's hard for me to do that."
Jasmine believes there's a family out there waiting for her; they just need a little extra time.
"The bottom line is just someone who loves and cares about me."
