This study explores resiliency among former foster youth enrolled in four-year universities and seeks to understand what makes this unique population resilient enough to achieve and maintain academic success despite remaining underserved and largely absent from educational discourse (Johnson, 2020). The qualitative approach of this study involved a preliminary screening demographic questionnaire and choosing 11diverse students/youth formerly in foster care (YFFC) currently enrolled in campus support programs at three selective California 4-year institutions. Sample selection considered these important elements: students who (1.) identify as foster youth, (2.) are enrolled in their third year of college or beyond, including graduate school (3.) have a current GPA of 3.0 or higher, and (4.) have received one or more forms of support from college campus programs designed to help foster youth. Both recruitment efforts and data collection were done remotely due to pandemic restrictions. The semi-structured interviews lasted 60-90 minutes and followed a 22-question interview protocol intended to explore research principles of risk and promotive factors that either hinder or foster adaptive behaviors as defined by Resiliency Theory. Questions were open-ended and separated into four sections: 1) Demographic Information, 2) Child Welfare Involvement, 3) K-12 Experiences, and 4) College Experiences. Based on the analysis of findings from the study’s qualitative interviews, five themes emerged: 1) Resiliency 2) Systemic Barriers, 3) Systems of Support, 4) Helpful Adults, and 5) Navigating Higher Education. Study findings suggest that resiliency can be a naturally occurring phenomenon in the face of persistent assaults on development. It supports current research propositions that resiliency involves fluid processes and does not remain fixed or wholly tied to rigid risk and promotive factors or personal traits (Oshiri et al., 2018). Data suggest that child welfare involvement is often itself, a traumatic and prolonged experience with impermanence in the form of excessive school and home transitions, changing adult faces, and constant assaults on personhood. Additionally, the K-12 experience was commonly described as devoid of adequate academic support, mentoring relationships and college preparation programs. Data also revealed that the significant weight of ACE’s suffered in care are often powerful enough to eclipse all other systemic barriers, including gender discrimination and racism. Furthermore, the data showed that the foster youth identity is often stigmatized and riddled with judgments and assumptions that stifle efforts on the part of foster youth to reach out and share their stories, as well as ask for help.