Part 2 of a special series following Rydell through a pivotal chapter of his life, from aging out of foster care and graduating high school, to launching his military and college career with the support of Boys Town Louisiana and the Successful Futures program.
For the past two years, Rydell has been preparing for life after foster care with the help of our Family Home program staff and Successful Futures, Boys Town Louisiana’s transitional support program for older youth. Designed to guide teens as they step into adulthood, the program offers hands-on help with everything from job applications and taxes to budgeting, college admissions and understanding real-world responsibilities.
“It helped me ask better questions,” Rydell said. “Not just take the first answer I find. It taught me how to do deeper research and gave me new ways to think about the decisions I’m making.”
He also valued going through the process with other teens his age. “We were all figuring things out together. Having that group made a difference.”
Recognized for Resilience
On May 13, Rydell traveled to Boys Town’s national campus in Omaha, Nebraska for Recognition Night. He had been told he would receive a special award, but the details were a surprise.
“They didn’t tell me what it’s for,” he shared in his May 9 interview. “I guess I’ll find out when I get there.”
What he found was a night full of applause and affirmation! Rydell was honored for his strength, leadership and vision for the future, receiving several awards:
- Overcoming Adversity Award – $1,000
- Can You Hear Me Now Award – iPhone 16, AppleCare+, and three years of phone service
- Father Boes Advocacy Award – $2,000 per semester for four years
- Cowboy Award – $3,000
- Military Recognition Incentive – $2,500 upon completion of basic training
“It was really exciting,” he said afterward. “I didn’t expect that at all!”
A High School Graduation and a New Path Forward
Just four days later, on May 17, Rydell stood tall in his cap and gown, crossing the stage at the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA). In the crowd, his foster mother Miss Christina, his sisters, and staff from Boys Town Louisiana looked on with pride and emotion. It was more than a graduation -- it was a powerful affirmation of how far he’s come.
Like the soldier he is preparing to become, Rydell has fought his way from the trenches, through uncertainty, separation and challenge, to build a future full of promise. With sunshine on his face and his family behind him, he is journeying forward with courage and clarity.
The Next Chapter
On July 1, Rydell will begin basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma as a 13B Cannon Crew Member with the Louisiana Army National Guard. His service will not only shape his discipline and leadership, but it will also fund his college education.
This fall, Rydell will enroll at the University of New Orleans, where he plans to study naval architecture and marine engineering. “At first, I wanted to do underwater welding,” he said. “But I realized engineering opens more doors. Plus, it lets me stay in Louisiana, close to my sisters.”
A Message for Others
Now a graduate, enlistee, and soon-to-be college student, Rydell is thoughtful when asked what he would say to other young people in care, especially those who may feel uncertain about the road ahead.
“Any situation you’re in, you can make the best of it,” he said. “When I first got to Boys Town, I didn’t want to be there. I was away from my family and didn’t know what was going to happen. But I realized, if I’m here, I might as well use it to move forward.”
And that’s exactly what he’s done.
In Part 3 of this series, we’ll follow Rydell as he journeys into his next chapter -- through the rigors of basic training and the rhythms of college life -- carrying with him the lessons, love and determination that brought him this far.
