[Annette]

I know of a friend’s sister that was born overseas and came to the U.S at the age of two. She started school and had to learn a new language/ reading and writing as well, can’t imagine how this impacted “June” and her first few years of development. She did overcome her challenges by learning and becoming fluent in English but had to become more outspoken and loud in classroom settings. This then leads to being labeled as disruptive and not quiet during class time.

[Emma]

A friend of mine was dropped off at the door at someone’s house as a baby. Her birth parents and later adoptive parents didn’t show her the love they could have and though she has gotten the opportunity to live in a nurturing environment much of the time as a high schooler, it is harder for her to build relationships as a young adult.

[Sophie]

A close friend of mine growing up who had been raised by their grandmother for the first several years of life, their Grandmother was a huge influence in their life. Even though they had only lived with her until they were four, their Grandmother remained the most influential and closet family member in their lives even as a young adult who had been living with their parents for the vast majority of their life. Those early years, memories, and interactions they had with her defined so much of what they believed love and family looked like.