Posted: 7/16/2014
Adoption Spotlight: Shania, Age 12
Shared by Adoptive Parent, Monica
My family was blessed with Shania six years ago. We loved her from the moment we saw her. She has three brothers, including a twin! Being the ONLY girl in a house full of boys is not easy. One of Shania’s best qualities is her incredibly strong spirit. Her no-fear attitude led her to not only enter her 5th grade speech competition, but come in 2nd place for the entire county! She is now in her middle school's law program. We are so proud of her and so blessed to call her out daughter.
Here is the beautiful speech she wrote specially about adoption, based on her personal experience of being adopted:
Feelings on Adoption, Written by Shania, Age 12
Being adopted is important to people that have been taken away from their family. Most people don’t understand kids' positions that are placed in foster care, but I do. I’ve experienced firsthand what some kids in this world have been put through, which is being placed in foster care with the hope of being adopted. The parents of these kids also have fears and worries.
Kids in foster care have many thoughts and fears. Many kids wonder, “Will they like me?” or “Will I stay with this family?” I would know because it is what I thought all of those years before I was adopted. Most kids worry about the second question, “Will I stay with this family?” This is because a lot of teens and kids turn 18* and this is when they become an adult. This worries us kids because if we aren’t adopted before we turn 18, then we grow up without a family. That’s why most kids are anxious to be adopted. When those kids are adopted, most people would call those kids fortunate.
Parents also have feelings on this subject too. They feel scared, nervous, anxious and excited. Some of their thoughts are, "Will they like me, and will I be a good parent?" People who are parenting for the first time are those people who think those thoughts and feel those feelings; this is because they have no experience at what they are doing. Some parents don’t want to deal with kids with problems like anger issues, but there are people out there that will deal with those kinds of kids. I know because those are the kind of people my parents are. Every kid so far that’s stepped into their house was adopted. They’ve adopted four kids and plan to adopt more. Those are the kind of people who truly care.
Most people don’t understand how many kids are in foster homes. There are about 400,000 kids in foster homes each year. Just last year, there were 650,000 kids in out-of-home care. That’s about 24% of the kids in the U.S. that are in foster care. That just proves there are a lot of kids out there without a family. Now, with the understanding of what kids emotions are that are placed in foster care, I hope you can see how important it is for kids to be adopted.
Heartland for Children is looking for families who are interested in becoming a forever family for children in the foster care system who are looking for adoptive homes.
Almost anyone is eligible to apply to become an adoptive parent — you may be single, married, divorced, or widowed. You may currently have children, or not. You may own a home, or rent. There is no minimum income requirement, but applicants must have legal and stable income that is sufficient to support themselves and their families prior to fostering.
If you live in Polk, Hardee, or Highlands County and wish to register for the next adoption training course, please contact Gwen Hinkle at (863) 519-8900 ext. 289. For additional information on adopting through foster care, please contact Ashley Beckwith at (863) 519-8900 ext. 219.
Heartland for Children thanks Shania for sharing her beautiful speech!
*In the state of Florida, teens may now choose to remain in foster care until the age of 21.