For most of my life, I felt like a stranger to everyone around me, including my family. It shouldn’t have been shocking; I was adopted. I cannot pinpoint the exact moment I knew that, because in a way I always knew. I am an Asian-American from South Korea, and I was brought into this country on August 4th, 1999. My adoptive parents refer to this day as my “Gotcha Day.”
One day 7 years ago, my mom and I were in the living room; my dad was in the kitchen, cooking up his famous spaghetti and meatballs. Scooby-Doo and the gang were on the television, chasing a werewolf. I sat on my mother’s lap watching the sunlight rise from the window.
Unfortunately, I was a thinker. I would I always spend time pondering silly matters such as why penguins can’t fly. Alas, as I sat there, I imagined how different my life would be if I weren’t adopted. I imagined the sights I would never be able to see, the scents I would never be able to
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Having a family is a universal concept that transcends blood-relations. The only difference between me and someone who isn’t adopted is that my situation is unique; I still have a mom, somewhere in this world that has endearment for me that might not be seen but felt. And I have a mom that lives with me, who loves me equally as much. I learned from this moment that being adopted shouldn’t be something to be ashamed of or disheartened about.
Life took me on a journey into an entire new world with a family that loves me. I am proud to be the son of such caring parents. Being adopted is something I will embrace for the rest of my time on Earth. Every time I think back to that moment with my parents, I am reminded of a certain quote by Jeff Goldblum from Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way.” I use this as my personal mantra and try to incorporate it into my daily life. As I’ve said before, I always wondered why penguins cannot fly. But one day I realized that they have no need to. They can