MI01C09774
| Status: | Available |
| Name: | Sydney |
| Age: | 14 |
| Race: | Black/African American |
| Gender: | Female |
| State: | Michigan |
| Case #: | MI01C09774 |
| Last Profile Update: | 07/25/25 |
| Photo Updated: | 09/01/25 |
About Sydney
“Respect goes both ways.” That’s what Leiah wants adults to understand about kids—and it’s also a good window into who she is; thoughtful, honest, and intentional. Known for her creativity and self-awareness, Leiah is a resilient teen who cares deeply about connection and expression. She prefers to go by Leiah instead of Sydney and says, “I’m really, really kind once you get to know me.” And that kindness? It shows in the way she talks about her grandma, who she calls her personal hero— “She’s very helpful and it’s easy talking to her.”
Leiah is a young person who feels things deeply and expresses herself through art, poetry, music, and fashion. She loves to draw people and flowers, write poems, and even wrote a song with lyrics like, “I wish you were here right now. I’m standing in the dark, waiting for your heart to light up.” She explained, “I wrote that about sometimes feeling like I’m enveloped in darkness, and someone’s kindness lights up the room.” That sense of introspection is one of the first things people notice about her. An adult who knows her well says, “She’s very introspective and very good about talking about her feelings and why maybe she feels the way she does. I often say she’s wise beyond her years. She’s very smart.”
Ask Leiah how she’d spend a perfect day, and she has it all planned out: Mexican food with big nachos and jalapeño poppers, a trip to the waterpark at Cedar Point, and maybe a little shopping for graphic novels. “I like Cammi Piccolo… and Wednesday Addams books too,” she says. If she and her friends had $1,000, they’d hit the mall, get pedicures, grab food, and head to an arcade. Her favorite games? “The monopoly one and the one where you push down the bar and get tickets.”
Leiah’s creative spirit also shines through in her idea of a dream clubhouse: “An art wall where you can throw paint on it and a chalkboard. A nice rug. A desk, probably a speaker to listen to music. Some snacks—hot chips, chips and cheese, spinach dip—lots of chips.” Her music taste is as unique as she is: she enjoys the indie style of singer/songwriter Melanie Martinez as well as country artists like Kane Brown, Morgan Wallen, Jellyroll, and Dasha.
Five words Leiah uses to describe herself? Resilient, kind, silly, outgoing, and brave. Her perfect Friday is all about winding down and getting ready to relax. She says, “I feel good” when asked about the day and she’s hopeful about the future, too. “I want to go to college. I want to be a fashion designer and a lawyer,” she says. When asked what she wants most out of life, her answer is simple and heartfelt: “To have a family and that I’m able to finally be in a home longer.”
Leiah is looking for a family who is patient, open, and understanding. She would do best with two parents who are experienced and trauma informed. In addition, Leiah would do best as the only child in the home. Pets? Totally fine. “I like kittens and dogs. I’m fine if they have snakes.”
When imagining time with a family, Leiah looks forward to simple joys: movie nights, game nights with Uno Flip or Trouble, or even going on a vacation. “Anywhere, as long as it’s together,” she says. She’s ready for what comes next, looking forward to swimming, spending time out of her current placement, and just getting the chance to be, in her words, an actual teenager.”
Leiah is open, grounded, and ready to build lasting relationships. She’s someone who thrives when she’s heard and understood. “I’m an open book,” she says. All she asks in return is for someone to read the pages with care.