Name: Mackenzie Bowie 
Period: 8

Hope that you'll agree with me, I am not different from you, being positive and Happy come from within.

Introduction- I believe in adoption. It was the most painful thing I have ever felt but at the same time the happiest day of my life.   It was Spring, March 13, 2013 to be specific, I knew it was official because the judge gave me a teddy bear, the cat was out of the bag, I was officially adopted.  It was then I didn’t feel different than other kids and it was then I knew that family was created from the love and happiness shared within the heart of those who truly care for you. 

Body 1- In 2009 I arrived in Colorado to live with my aunts, I had no idea what was happening, I was only 4 years old, my brother was 2 and he cried like hungry baby Boston Terrier. As I grew older and started school I realized I didn't have a normal - traditional family.  I didn't have someone to call  mom & dad and when we would go to school events my friends saw this too and then the questions came. Where is your mom & dad, don't they love you, why do you call her aunt, why do you live with your aunt, why didn't you go to the daddy daughter dance.  This is when the feelings of I’m different started, the truth hurt like a needle being pushed through my heart. During school I was bullied, called names, picked on, looked at different than other kids and pushed around. Because of all of this I became soft, emotional, sad and my feelings were hurt easily, However, this was not going to keep me down, I was going to figure this out.

My adopted  parents said even when kids are mean to you, be nice to them. I make sure that everyday if someone is mean to me or makes fun of me, I just smile and walk away. I fill my life with things that make me happy, softball, time with my brother, watching funny and scary movies. Adopted kids are normal, adopted kids are not different, we are the same just from different places. Adoption changed my life and if I had one wish, it would be that kids that are not adopted give kids like me a break and take the time to understand that we are just kids just like them, with a few more things to understand in this world. 

After learning that my family was normal, not traditional but normal, I knew that it didn't matter what others said. I had two parents, I had love, I had food, I had a bed, I had a home, I had a family! Being adopted is hard to understand as a child and I still struggle sometimes but I know that as long as I am loved it doesnt matter what their DNA is.

One thing I know for certain is that being positive and happy can make life so much more enjoyable fun, exciting and overall fulfilling, whether your adopted or not. Being treated different is not easy to deal with, especially because what they were saying was true, I didn't have a mom and dad. However being adopted was like bright ray of sunshine replacing the clouds.  I believe in adoption, I believe in being happy and I believe that I should be the voice for other in my situation that are not a lucky as me. 


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