what will I need to get to my greatness?

Hi blog family!
back to school.
 I know its hard..but you are doing it!! stay strong and postive.
 Have you ever wanted something so bad but you just keep NOT getting it? $, fame, cars, friends, jobs, skills, clothes, life style, career, (ie..doctor, judge)..talent....

I say to you ask yourself why do you want it?
Do you need it or just want it to feel great or look great or be great?
 if its the last,,go for it!.
For instance if you wanted to be popular in school...not so great UNLESS it was so you could help teach/show other unpopular kids its not so hard.
The cause of why you do it is very important because if it is a good reason...you will keep trying until the very end-even when others discourage you.
At the end of our lives you want to be remembered for the good you did or who you helped, saved or changed, not by the outfits you wore or the people you hung with or the house you lived in! When you think of wanting something so bad, ( trying to be a doctor one day or a singer or a bball player, math teacher), think of why you are doing it, is it for the love or for the fame....

keep all your dreams alive, daily by writing them down and looking at them everyday..visualization very important!
you are young but remember your never too young to leave a legacy--while your alive so do ALL things with GOOD intention and purpose-because this is what you will be remembered by!
 xo Tanya

Self Review

Hi blog family!!
Today is another beautiful day and I am glad you and I are here to tell about it!!


Today, I ask you- is your life going the way you want it to go? 
Why or why not? 
what can you do to foster change? 
what do YOU need to do to start the change process?
 Who do you need to HELP you? 
Did you use all of your resources you have now?: counselor, therapist, social worker, lawyer, friends, your own ideas and help??


I will review with you every now and then to make sure you stay focused. 
You cannot sleep, accept when it's bedtime!
 Don't underestimate yourself OR sell yourself short by being lazy. 
Always be a person looking for new information and ideas to make yourself better,
 NEVER give up or give in to dispare,
 let anger & frustration motivate you, not keep you from your goals.
You know what you need to do and if you don't, ask me or anyone who can help. 
You know what you need to do so that when you leave foster care, your life will be better than your parents and your future kids, will have a life better than yours-because you pre-planned, set goals and did what needed to be done!
You are a blessing to this world and I thank god for you and the universe needs you--so go handle your business of bettering yourself!!
XO Tanya

What do you want to be, now, not when u grow up!

Hi blog family!! Ex- model and my baby brother!

Reminder: did you go to oprah.com and vote for my video: transitional house- type in my name Tanya Cooper for the vid to come up!!!
Arizona was fun and I delivered a message that I know Arizona got: "foster kids who leave foster care without transitional housing may end up in the system via court, jail, rehabilitation, homeless or the morgue!
Why? Because when you leave, you may not be ready to go into that big world yet, some of you may.

I just winged it...I went off to Paris to model and got lucky, but many will not know how to seize the moment, that is why I go around speaking, looking for kids that were clueless like I was when I was young!

Many of you are joining gangs, thinking this is family love--NOT!! remember gangs only claim territory and colors - they don't claim your body when you get killed!!
 They claim everything YOU own but they don't sign over their claims in a will, when they die do they?? think about it-
 ganging is wack! I do understand why they are so popular,
I don't understand why they don't teach you how to better yourself and not hurt others or how to get a business that is legitimate,
that would be love,
but that is not what you get in a gang- you only get high, labeled, stupidurrrr, (yes that's my word), and dead!! ( no offense to those already in but you need to GET OUT- just change you cell, change your school, stop your FB- change to a new name that none of them knows!! 
There is always a way, and if not...still go to school, do your homework, get an education!! you have no future with gangs! ask the biggest gangters--even Gotti, LUcas-Gigante-!!
 If I can get you to think of NOW not later...you will be ok... speaking of...
Do you know what you want to be?
Yes, I did not say when you grow up on purpose, you know why? BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE WRITING, PLOTTING AND PLANNING WHAT YOUR FUTURE JOB AND LIFE WILL BE NOW!!!
During slavery often masters (people in charge of slaves), would tell the slaves they will get their gold when they get to heaven....NOT..your heaven is right here, right now!
If you missed my speech in Ohio- you are the cinderella's, the knight and shinning armour, the prince charming, no one will be coming to rescue you, but YOU!! Your are "IT",  you are what the world has been waiting for.
Sit down with your counselor or worker, write down your short term goals: 
what you can achieve now..
.example: you can go to school and go to class- your long term goal: to go to acting school. what would you do to get there?
start taking drama classes at school,
join the acting club,
join in any plays- all most all schools put on plays, (if yours don't = go talk to the principle), (but first get a petition, (a bunch of signitures from classmates who want to do the play to)...
be in as many plays as you can,
go to the community center,
anywhere someone is putting on a play..
then you plan to go to community college and study theathre or save all of your money from jobs in highschool and apply to a acting workshop that is known in your area- the point is start doing the little things now, for the big goal later.
You can do this, why? 
Because you are smart, loveable and the best kid around.
Beleive in you and everyone else will start!

Ok, enough,
 how is your summer so far??
OMG, because I am traveling around the country speaking to you, life is great.
 It will be a year since my brother died July 10th...
I thought I could not make it anymore BUT, I found out God made me stronger than I thought and because of kids like you, I will fight to live harder, longer and to save or change a life- help me by not only reading the blog, but tell you friends and try to encourage them to live a GOOD life a life full of events and purpose. 
Please don't forget you are so important to this world, you may be the one to save or change a life today...I know you have changed mine-
 My brother is smiling, knowing that I am healing through you!
Thanks and your are loved and special xo Tanya

Don't miss your chance!!

Hi blog family! ok this is the same as the adults today......
Have you ever had a chance to do one of the many things you dreamed of and one day the chance comes knocking on your door, only you: look through the peephole, saying: " who is it?? not knowing its your chance of a lifetime!
Or you look and open the door a little and even though you know you heard the knock, you only cracked it open enough to see an inch, or took too long to go to the door,

so you missed whoever was there, or worse, you  don't open it !
I really missed some good opportunity's this month, but I want you to know, if you get one chance, be ready!
When it comes to your dream..
It is important that you take the time to perfect your craft or gift.
Often while in foster care we don't have time to find out what it is.
I know I was born to talk and help others, tv has always been the vehicle I wanted to use to get to my real goal of empowering youth.

What can you do to be ready?
Read as much as you can on your subject
Stay away from anyone that thinks you cannot do what you wish!
Practice, Practice, Practice!!!
Prepare whatever you need for your field, (audition tapes, pictures, samples,..)
find out who the GO TO person is in your field, ask for advice if needed, if not model after whoever is doing it big in your field

*Most important, like Nike says: "Just DO it!!!"

If you sleep too long or don't answer the door of chance,
you may miss it,
be prepared and willing to go when called,
 this may be your chance to save, change or effect a life!!
XO Tanya

how do you pick your friends?

Hi blog family, hope you are well. Today is friday, get out after school, ride your bike, walk, see a movie or get togeather with your friends and play checkers..any game that keeps your mind sharp.

I wanted to know how do you pick your friends? At this age you usually take what you can get so whoever is friendly....that's it.. I want you to start being a little  more selective, yea, I know your young but you got to start now so that by the time you get grown, you selected such good friends they have helped you grow as a persona and togeather you complement each other's life!

When choosing a friend:
pick someone who is not violent
does not steal, lie or cheat
likes adventure that is not harmful to themselves, you or others
has a future plan for themselves....dreams of being something or a goal to get a desent job that allows them to be on their own
funny, got to have a friend that knows how to laugh at themselves ...and you when your being silly or just need someone to bring you down from anger..with a laugh..
cares about you and your well being...they don't let you take the fall for them when they get in trouble, they won't allow you to do drugs or be around dangerous people places or things...they are always looking out for your best interest, not their own or using you to achieve a bad deed...

choose your friends carefully, you are judged by the company you keep and remember I told you: "if you don't make a plan, the universe will make one for you" (that means plan your goals, future, family relationships and yes, your friends!! xo Tanya