In their own words...
My name is Emmanuel and I am 17 years old, and a senior at a high school for the sciences. I was adopted when I was 15 years old with three of my biological siblings, by an angel named Janice. I was put in care when I was nine years old. After being in care three years earlier I was familiar to the process. This being my second time in care, I wasn’t as afraid as my first time. It is sad to say that the home before Janice’s home couldn’t house all of my siblings, so we were split up. However, when we came to her house, she did everything she could to keep us all together. But, when things went wrong she had to do what was right for us, and my two older brothers were removed. Then my younger brother Joshua was born and we decided to bring him home so he could grow up with his siblings.
Janice’s house was different. I had been in three other homes and never felt as much love as I feel here. That is how I knew I was in the right place. Her house was, is, and always will be a home. The entire family welcomed us with open arms and immediately we became a family, a host of cousins, aunts, uncles, and with the best grandparents.
To me adoption means having a second chance at life, a second chance to be successful, loved, have a good life, to be raised the right way, and happiness. Being adopted has been a blessing to me; it means that someone has seen something special in you, something beyond your first impressions. Being adopted changes your life and it opens your eyes to see the world isn’t all bad.
I am now graduating in June with an advanced regents diploma. I’ve always been an honor student and I was recognized as Hofstra University’s High School Student of the Month for January 2007. I am also a Relationship Abuse Prevention Peer Leader, President of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., Beta Omicron chapter Kudos, and I won first place at the Eastern region oratorical contest. I thank Janice for all of her love and support.