Ranch Reflections are articles written by students who want to share their experiences, thoughts, and concerns. This is a great opportunity for students to branch out beyond traditional news stories.
Lilly Okland – LRHS News
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – People who aren’t adopted may not see adoption as a “big” thing. In reality, adoption is a massive thing. Over 600,000 people are adopted in America every year.
Adoption provides couples who aren’t able to conceive their own children an opportunity to be able to raise a child and call him or her their own. Also, adoption gives many pregnant women who aren’t ready to raise a baby, an option to give the baby away to someone who is ready.
I was adopted as a newborn. I don’t have a grudge against my birthmother for giving me up. I know that if her situation were more convenient, she would have loved to be able to raise me along with my older sister. However, many children and teens who have been adopted are bitter towards their birthparents. They feel abandoned, unloved, and unwanted. I too felt that way before I understood the severity of the situation.
Being adopted isn’t a bad thing. As a result of the adoption process, I was adopted by a lovely European couple, who even though they are not together anymore, taught me many things. I am proud to be able to call them my parents. Because of them, I have learned all about their culture and language. As a result, I am fluent in Norwegian.
I have visited Norway at least 13 times, and have met most of my relatives who live there. They have accepted me into their family with open arms. As a matter of fact, after meeting me, my cousin was inspired to adopt her own two children, and she is now living happily with them and her husband.
Even though I do not know entirely who I really am, and what heritage I have, it is always fun to guess. I have contact with my sister, who I have not met, and we discuss such things. She says that we have Apache, Cherokee, German, French, Hispanic, and Irish blood. It is odd that I call myself Norwegian, when I have no Norwegian blood.
Being adopted is just part of who I am. I’m content with my situation, and I appreciate that someone wanted a child so much, that they adopted me as their own, and showed me what love is.