Great Expectations

When teenager Rachel Canning sued her parents for financial support and college tuition, it made the news.

When a boy named Anthony had his own relatives turn against him, it did not.

I don't know Rachel. I know only what I've read or heard on the news reports. It is a very sad story about a family that has fallen apart, and, apparently of a young women who is not willing or able to fend for herself. It is difficult and scary for someone who is only 18 years old to be suddenly on her own to have her life take this unexpected turn.

Anthony rarely knew anything besides turmoil.

Anthony was born into foster care. He ended up with a grand-aunt who was abusive and neglectful. She died of cancer when Anthony was 14 years old. Then another aunt, Joan, stepped in to raise Anthony. She tried to undo the damage caused by her sister, but she died of a heart attack when Anthony was just 17 years old. She died right in front of him.

Like Rachel, there were lawyers and legal battles, but it wasn’t about private school. His remaining relatives tried to cheat Anthony out of the small amount of money that his Aunt Joan had wanted to be left to him.

After Rachel left home, she moved in with friends.

Anthony didn’t have that option.  When his beloved aunt died, he didn’t have a network of friends who were able to step in.

Rachel is 18 years old. She is legally emancipated.

For a foster kid, emancipation is a scary thing. For Anthony’s remaining year before emancipation, he was sent to another foster home and then to a group home. He was feeling depressed and suicidal, but there were no friends or loving relatives to help him.

Rachel goes to private school.

By the time Anthony was emancipated he had gone to six different high schools. He never did graduate.

Emancipation for a foster kid, even one who is being housed in an unhappy home, is not a time of parties and freedom and celebration. It is an unceremonious slamming of the door. There is no more money. No college tuition. No emotional support.

Anthony turned to public speaking as a way of healing. He caught the attention of assembly representative, Fiona Ma, who offered him a job in her capitol office. While working there full time, Anthony started taking classes at the community college.

It hasn't always been easy for Anthony. He's never had that built-in support network that even people from humble backgrounds have. But he's persevered. And he has built an impressive resume.  He’s completed study abroad programs at Oxford University and in Israel. He is President Emeritus, Lambda Chapter, Alpha Delta Gamma National Fraternity.

And now, in just a few months, he'll complete his bachelor's degree. This isn't the end of Anthony's story. It's scary to graduate from college. Who knows what he'll find to do next?

Although he doesn't have that traditional group of people applauding for him. I'll be cheering.

The latest news is that Rachel Canning has reconciled with her family, although she hasn't dropped her lawsuit, or her expectation of what is owed to her. I wish her well.

Currently, Anthony is interviewing for graduate school programs, and, in fact, has recently had a second interview. I know that when we read about him in the news, it’s going to be a story of his own accomplishment.

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Hear more of Anthony’s story. 338: The Spokesman, August 10. 2007