Providing Pathways for Success
James 1:27 reminds us that true love means looking out for widows and orphans. In response, Jessup University began the On Ramp program, a dedicated effort created to provide a pathway to success for former foster youth through access, vision, support and skills. The collaborative approach across the University ensures each student receives a Christ-centered higher education that is affordable and achievable.
Jenna Rapetti will graduate from Jessup’s On Ramp program this December, earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Rapetti was part of the foster care system until the age of five when she and her two sisters were legally adopted by her foster parents. Prior to their adoption, the sisters moved frequently, at one point residing in four different placements within a year.
“There really isn’t much stability for kids in the foster care system,” Rapetti said. ‘At any point in time, your belongings can be quickly thrown together in a garbage bag and you’re moved to completely different surroundings with a new school, no friends and new family dynamics to adjust to. Foster youth also tend to develop attachment and trust issues because it’s hard to get comfortable in your surroundings.”
As a Filipino, growing up in a predominantly White neighborhood, Rapetti remembers feeling the need to tell people she was adopted because she looked different than her adoptive parents. “Kids can be cruel and there were some tough times. I experienced some racial discrimination in high school which made me want to move on when I graduated.”
After graduation, Rapetti moved to Rocklin to be close to her sisters who also relocated because of their participation in Bayside Church’s Thrive internship program. She attended Sierra College for two years pursuing a pre-nursing program only to discover it wasn’t her passion. “During my last semester, my heart just wasn’t in it. I found myself less and less motivated and considered dropping out of school. I really didn’t want to do that, but didn’t see other options.”
That’s when Rapetti turned to Heidi White, educator and church relations director with The Alliance, a network of agencies, nonprofits, community members, businesses and churches working together to protect kids and strengthen families. “Heidi has been a mentor to my older sister for many years, so I knew she had my best interest at heart. When she told me about Jessup’s On Ramp program, I couldn’t believe this opportunity was available to me.”
She applied and just two weeks before the start of the 2022 Fall semester, Rapetti became an official Warrior. Suddenly immersed into campus life, she connected with other On Ramp students and integrated into the Jessup community despite her somewhat introverted personality. “I was the type that would eat by myself, but that didn’t last for long because everyone on campus is so friendly.”
Rapetti enjoyed the close relationships she formed with her professors, small class sizes as well as the integration of faith and learning in the classroom. “Jessup is such a supportive environment,” she said. “One of the most important things my Jessup education taught me is how to be a light to others and pour into them spiritually because so many people did that for me.”
Rapetti also credits Jessup with strengthening her faith journey. “Jessup helped me find my own faith. Before I came to Jessup, it was more about what my parents believed. I learned to make sense of my faith and develop a more personal relationship with Jesus,” she said. “I’ll admit, growing up as a minority made me feel different, and for some reason, in a weird way, I didn’t want to put being Christian on top of that. I didn’t want another reason to be different, but Jessup taught me to celebrate that and to recognize my identity in Christ comes first.”
Rapetti also met her husband during her college experience. He played on the tennis team and had another quality that felt familiar to Rapetti. “It turns out that Noah is Filipino, so it made me feel comfortable right from the start because we share similar experiences and that familiarity bonded our relationship,” she said.
While at Jessup, Rapetti had the opportunity to complete her internship with The Alliance. There she did administrative and social media work helping the nonprofit to thrive. That internship turned into a job where Rapetti currently serves as a program and executive assistant and has the opportunity to share about her Jessup On Ramp experience. This role is important to her because she has personally seen the difference it makes for a child when safe people advocate on their behalf. Helping other vulnerable kids and families is both rewarding and healing for her. Rapetti plans to pursue her master’s degree and later become a child therapist.
“I know it might sound cliche, but I always hold out hope,” she said. “I never thought my life would have gone the direction it did. People may not realize it, but the act of just one person getting involved, changes lives. When one person cares, the system changes.”
