2 minute read
Take Control of Your Destiny
Royleta Foster
by Siobhan Davenport, Contributing Features Editor
Royleta Foster is a servant leader committed to helping adults living with disabilities. With only $52 in her bank account, she founded Creative Living Support Services, LLC, and in only five years, her business has grossed $1 million and is on track for another million-dollar year.
Foster sustained injuries that affected her ability to learn; after being ejected through the windshield of a car driven by her biological father, driving while drunk. Adding to that trauma were constant comments from her special education teachers in middle school and into her high school years that she was destined for a life on welfare, having babies with different men, and continuing to live in the housing project where she grew up.
Thankfully, Foster’s mother and stepfather were a source of inspiration for her and her six siblings and always encouraged them to rise above their circumstances and pursue their dreams. Although money was tight, her parents saw that the family participated in activities that allowed them to expand their horizons and see beyond the housing project where they lived. Relying on her faith and drawing from the encouragement of her parents, Foster rejected the words of her special education teachers and was determined to rewrite that narrative. She set her heart on not only lifting herself out of poverty but lifting her family out of poverty as well. “I always wanted to be a business owner and, for a while, I forgot about that dream because life happened. I was sexually abused by my biological father and subsequently involved in several abusive relationships. I needed to heal. I was raising my son as a single parent, when in 2012, I lost everything. I lost my job, I lost my home, and I lost my car. I had to start completely over and moved in with my sister, but as difficult as that time was, giving up was never an option.”
Foster met a friend in high school who insisted she attend an educational program called Upward Bound. Through that program, attending college became an attainable goal. Her parents advocated having her removed from remedial classes in her senior year. This move put her on the path to college.
“I am most proud of achieving my educational goals. I’m the first one in my immediate family to go to college and the first to obtain a master’s degree. God put me in a place where I can serve and help others, and I want to inspire my family and others to see possibilities.”
Today, Foster refuses to put limits on herself. While pursuing her doctorate, she is celebrating the status of being a two-time best-selling author, a certified life coach, and an active member of Mu Alpha Mu Christian Sorority, Inc. Foster believes if she can overcome her
challenges to become a successful entrepreneur, so can Cheryl Magazine readers.
“There’s no secret sauce to owning a successful business. You need vision, dedication, and a willingness to work hard. Are you going to give up at the first signs of failure or go back and rework your plan? The best advice I ever received was from Cheryl – “Don’t get ready, be ready!” You miss opportunities when you’re getting ready.”
To learn more about Royleta Foster and the service she provides to families and individuals living with developmental disabilities, go to www.creativelivingss.com.
by Siobhan Davenport, Contributing Features Editor
