Quotes
These quotes are from CCI, the adoptees I interviewed, DANakaDAN's Stuntman album, and other adoptees who submitted quotes through the website.
“I wish people understood a little bit more about what it meant to be adopted, what it means to be adopted.”
“Can explain to me all this
and what life is all about
To live or live without,
We’re wondering what is out
so it’s always got me asking,
Is there anybody out there out there”
Dear birth family.....
“I would probably say to them thank you for giving me a good life. You know that’s something really hard to say just because they are the ones who gave me up.”
“I would first ask them if I have any other siblings.”
“I think I would like to tell them how loved I am at home in America because I know some birth parents are always worrying about their kid and how they’re doing. But I think I love being here.”
“I would also want to know if I’m prone to getting any disease and if there’s alcoholism runs in my family. ”
“I would ask my birth parents when my birthday was.”
“I would want to know what they would name me I think that would be really interesting.”
“I think my biological parents didn’t have a choice. They never went through the appropriate channels to put my sister and I up for adoption. But they also didn’t just abandon us and leave us to die. I believe we were loved. We were placed where they knew someone would find us. They left us in homemade bamboo baskets. The most important part was that they kept Maddy and I together. ”
“I’m glad that she put me up for adoption because she still gave me a chance to have a fulfilling life where I can do all these things and sort of make my own path for myself because I know that she did that out of love.”
“Do you feel the same as I do,
does all this remind you
Of a time you were at your lowest,
just trying to find you
With no one around for you,
to ever think or relate
So you close off yourself,
and these feeling they fade
I can’t be the only one,
who has this need to connect
Can’t say what we really feel,
we have this need to protect”
“Would my family here,
feel loved or abandoned
And if I told you the truth,
would you understand it.
But for some reason it worked,
two worlds emerged,
Two mothers had nursed,
for myself on this earth
I’m grateful for it”
“I just like to be able to capture the word in its beauty. Whatever the subject might be I like to figure out how to make it, how to tell a story or make a point in my photos.”
“I think adoption is a beautiful thing.”
“I think adoption should only be viewed as a positive thing. ”
“I think adoption is absolutely wonderful. I think it is a blessing and an opportunity. I wish more people would adopt to give children a second chance at life, to flourish and grow, and know what it’s like to belong to a family. ”
“I see adoption as a blessing for both the families and the adoptees. I believe an adopted parent’s love can be stronger than a biological parent’s love because they fought for us, they wanted us and they welcomed us into their family and made us one of them.”
When did you know you were adopted?
“It was always known that I was adopted.”
“I never use to when I was younger in grade school. As I’ve grown, I come to realize that being an adoptee is an amazing thing and it is great to share my experience with others (adoptees and non-adoptees). ”
“I am working on telling more people that I trust about my adoption.”
“I have no problem telling people that I am adopted. I’m not afraid of uncomfortable talking about it.”
“I speak openly about adoption because I think it’s something that is part of me and nothing that I can really change or hide at any point because that’s just me.”
“I am fine talking openly about adoption although I don’t do it much. It is part of who I am so naturally I am open about it but I do not find it incredibly central to my everyday life.”
“I’ve always known, so I don’t know when. It’s just always been something that was known. I was adopted into a forever family. My birth family loved me enough to give me a chance to have a better life than what they could provide.”
By-katie borg
nadina
Positive Effects of Adoption
“You’re also linking two families together.”
“Like I feel like it’s a connection, an unseen, unspoken connection that we have that makes us closer.”
“Literally you are not any less than anybody in this world. We are all human, we all breath air.”
“I don’t see a difference in people that are adopted or aren’t.”
Would You Adopt?
“I would adopt because there are so many children out there that need forever families because their birth parents can’t or won’t take care of them.”
“I would adopt. I think that it’s important that, I mean it’s important to me of course because I was adopted. I think that some other kids I think.... It’s something that would really be connected to me.”
by-katie borg
“Was born at the right place, right time,
I find with the right face
my family all had white face,
Influenced such in my taste ”
Identity is….
“To me, identity is who you are or who you want to be. That would include essential characteristics, ideals, and qualities that are central to an individual.”
“Identity is who you are and how you see and express yourself. Identity is complex and sometimes hard to find. With self-exploration, time, and many experiences, identity can be a bit more clear. This being said identity is a process and is different for everyone. ”
“My definition of my identity is that it changes depending on what I want to be seen as, and what I feel like.”
“Identity is who you are as a person on the outside but more importantly who you are on the inside.”
“Everyone’s identity is different, it provides variety.”
“I think identity is all the components of yourself that you have selected to form how you want people to perceive you as in individual. Who you are and identity I view as two different things. Identity is just how other people identify you, so I see it as being physical characteristics, style and fashion sense, emotions that are obvious to see on a person, how you hold yourself and how you speak.”
“Identity is vital. It gives purpose and it’s what makes you one unique individual out of several billion people on this earth. Identity provides insight into the past, present and future. ”
“Identity is important because it not only affects how we see ourselves but also how others view us.”
“Identity is important because it creates individuals and individuality is very important. Identity gives people self-confidence and self-worth because to have an identity I think you must know who you are as a person.”
“Because it can help you get a small sense of who you are, which is very important to me as an adoptee.”
“It’s difficult to say what I identify as in a short phrase or sentence because identity is so much more than a description, I think it is also a feeling of knowing something. If I had to say, I would identify myself as purely just an individual. This is because I don’t like having to tie myself down to common (or uncommon, but still recognized) descriptions because I think people I worth more than descriptions.”
“A Chinese American female adoptee. I identify as such because I am many things. First and foremost, I am human. I am female. My life experiences shape who I am today which is why I identify as a Chinese American adoptee. I was born in China, raised in America and adopted by two phenomenal parents. ”
“Race-wise, I identify as many things, Asian, Asian American, Chinese, and just American.”
“I identify myself as an Australian, because that is my home, it is where my family is. ”
“I identify as many different things because people have different facets to themselves. Racially I definitely identify as Asian but ethnically and culturally I identify as both Asian and American.”
“Race plays a huge role in my identity, some people see me as Asian, others see me as being more white (my adoptive family’s heritage) and pretty much every person plays a role too.”
“Family is the biggest influence on constructing my identity. I know I would of been a different person if I was brought up by a Chinese family. The values and beliefs that I grew up with are different to traditional beliefs and values of Chinese culture.”
“I think all of those things, race, religion, hobbies, friends, your adoption and your community, except for your adoptive family’s heritage because I don’t see how it can really visually effect you (maybe in some cases). All the other things I think do play into your identity because you will show these things through the way you dress, act, look etc.”
“It led me to a twin brother,
Who shares the same exact passion
Can you imagine,
But who am I to question the odds
so I’m taking mine and making mine,
With a standing applause
this is my celebratory song,
Victory laps around the pond
I never thought that I’d be on,
So Imma take my time while I belong ”
“This is a dedication to those
Who have felt like me
who might be, like me,
Never thought that this was likely
I didn’t stop and now I’m winning
Everything is beginning to be
A little bit more better for me
Do it indefinitely ”
My advice to you is.....
“Speak up, don’t be afraid, think of how strong you are, knowing your past, know that you are special and loved by two families.”
“Don’t be scared- to ask questions, to challenge those who put you down, to stand up for yourself, to make people feel embarrassed if they have embarrassed you. Basically, you are you, and you can’t change that, so don’t hide from yourself. Don’t be embarrassed because of your situation and don’t feel as if you have to change.”
“I think it depends on your perspective and the way you look at things. Abandoned has a negative connotation but in the literal sense I know I was abandoned. This act however was not “reckless” or unplanned as and therefore the idea behind it could be seen as “being placed” for adoption.”
“I think adoption is a good thing and opens doors all the people involved. It provides options not only for the birth family but also for the adoptive family. Additionally, adoption provides a community for those involved, especially on the receiving end.”
“Adoption is what you make it. If you don’t want it to define you, don’t have to let it. On the other hand, if you find yourself really interested in it you should pursue your passion and it may become central to your identity. If you are somewhat like myself, you may find yourself somewhere between, just let adoption and all that it entails be a part of your life in whatever ways appeal to you.”
“I believe that spectacle comes
from even the coarsest of thumbs
from the most unexpected places,
So let it take over I’m numb”
“Oh yeah that very first time,
How it was less then what you wanted
to be honest I was tarnished,
No potential in rawness
but with practice perfects it,
Met some people who blessed it
I’m an ordinary guy,
Extraordinary investments”
