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Hi, my name is Paige! I was born in Youyang City, Chongqing, China, and was adopted when I was two years old. Growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I always knew I was adopted, and I learned to get to know my culture and my home in China. I am the baby of my family, where I have two older sisters and brothers.

As a kid, it was a little difficult for me in school because I had to learn a whole new language, and it took me until the age of 6 to somewhat speak and understand English. School was always very hard because of the English language, and also, many people were not friendly towards me because I was Chinese. I learned to overcome any kind of negativity that relates to my culture and where I’m from, and to only focus on the positive side of it.

What I love to do is listening to music and running. I also enjoy learning Mandarin, and I love to learn about my culture and its history. During the summers, I go to Adopteen. It’s so much fun, and I make so many friends who are also from China. It’s a great community that I have surrounded myself with. I go in so excited to meet everyone, and I learn so much by the time I leave each year.

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#adoptee#adopted#adoptees#adopt#adopts#adoption#adoptions#transracialadoptee#transracialadoption#internationaladoption#china#chinaadoption#adoptedchild#adoptionstory#adoptionstories#adopteesspeak#adoptioncommunity#chongqing#adopteevoices#shareyourstory

Hi, my name is Rose. I’m 19 years old and live in Charlottesville, Virginia. I was adopted when I was two years old from Hubei, China. I have two sisters; my older sister isn’t adopted, and my younger sister is adopted.

I was found in the stairway of the radiology section of a children’s hospital by a nurse named Ying. She took me to the local police station, and they put an ad for me in the local newspaper. After a couple of days had passed and no one claimed me, I was taken to the local orphanage, where I stayed and lived for the first two years of my life. When I was two, my family adopted me. My family already had a daughter who happened to be three years older than I, and a couple of cats.

I grew up in a supportive family that was always up front and honest about my adoption. Adoption was never the frontline of our story. People would stare and ask us questions, especially when I was younger. But I was raised in a small rural town where everyone knew everyone. Therefore, everyone knew who I was and was familiar with my story. I was one of the few Asian kids in my town. I was bullied throughout elementary and middle school. Classmates used to tease me about my eyes, fingers, and culture. I knew I was different. I never fit in with the white students, but didn’t fit in with the Asian ones either. As a child, I used to want to dye my hair blonde and get blue eye contacts so that I would look like my peers. But as I got older, I became more confident in myself and my story. I believe my story is special and unique, and no amount of hate can take that from me.

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#adopt#adopts#adoption#adoptions#adoptee#adoptees#adoptive#adoptionstory#adoptionstories#adopteestories#adopteevoices#adoptioncommunity#adoptedchild#internationaladoption#transracialadoptee#transracialadoption#china#hubei#chinaadoption

Hello, my name is Hannah, and I was born in Guangzhou, China, in 2002. I came to the United States when I was two years old, but did not become a citizen until I was twelve.

Growing up, I was also grateful for moving to the U.S., but I struggled with my identity and self-acceptance. All I ever wanted was to know who my biological mother was and where I got certain traits of mine from. Personally, I feel that my adoptive parents failed to see my mental health declining from not being able to find my place. They were not the right parents to adopt a child. I did not have any friends or classmates who could relate to me and my identity. Everyone else in my community was white-American, knew their biological parents, and were not discriminated against for being “different.”

As I got older, I wanted to branch out into the Asian community and be a part of a group of people who shared physical traits like mine. When I did, I felt so happy and was welcomed with open arms. I am forever grateful for the experience and for the wonderful people I have met.

Fast forward, I graduated high school early, joined the active-duty Army, graduated college in two years, married the love of my life, do hospice care volunteering, and am entering doctoral school for naturopathy. I currently hold a bachelor’s degree in science of public health from Grand Canyon University and have been doing public health administration/management on the side. My hobbies include eating vegan, exploring, reading, writing, and volunteering.

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#adopt#adopts#adoptee#adoptees#adoption#adoptions#chinaadoption#transracialadoptee#transracialadoption#internationaladoption#adoptedchild#guangzhou#guangdong#adopteesspeak#adopteestories#adoptionstory#adoptionstories#adopteevoices#adoptioncommunity

23andMe to be acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

What you need to know about the 23andMe sale.

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#adoption#adoptions#adopt#adopts#adoptee#adoptees#adoptive#adoptionstory#adoptionstories#adopteestories#adoptionjourney#transracialadoption#transracialadopteee#internationaladoption#adoptedchild#chinaadoption#adopted#dna#dnatest#dnatesting#23andme#biological#dnagenetics#genetic#genetictesting#genetictest

Hello! My name is Liba Mott. I don’t know much about where I come from, besides being born in Fuzhou, China. I was adopted when I was a few months old (I don’t know the precise date), and I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago as a Jewish Chinese adoptee.

Growing up, it was hard to figure out who I was. I was struggling to balance Judaism, being Asian, and being an adoptee at the same time. I attended a Jewish private school most of my life, where I was always the odd one out. It was hard for me to make friends and accept my ethnicity because of my surroundings. I struggled with accepting my identity to the point where I started to wish I weren’t Asian.

In the Jewish world, it is typically customary to take a year off in Israel and then attend a Jewish college. As soon as I hit high school, I decided to go straight to a public college to connect with Asian people like me and figure out who I was.

I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for two years, but did not think it was the right choice for me. I then switched to Oakton Community College and am happy with the decision I made. I currently attend Oakton, where I’m studying Fine and Applied Arts to earn a bachelor’s in Art Education.

Although I felt like I didn’t fit in at my Jewish school and UIUC, I was still able to make friends and accept who I am. It might have taken me a while, but I am very blessed with the friends and family I have now. I am supported, understood, and loved. I hope one day I can visit China and explore my roots. I also hope to dig up more about where I come from and start the search for who my birth parents might be. I understand that it is a long and emotional process, but I have my friends and family to guide me along the way.

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#adopted#adoptee#adoptees#adopt#adopts#adoption#adoptions#adoptionstory#adoptionstories#adopteestories#transracialadoptee#transracialadoption#internationaladoption#adoptionjourney#adoptioncommunity#adoptedchild#chinaadoption#china#chicago#fuzhou#uiuc#adoptionawareness

Téa, from @girls.adoption.connect, and Julia, from @unavision_diferente, discuss the importance of reflecting and researching adoptee DNA testing in light of the recent 23&me bankruptcy filing.

Note: This is not an endorsement for deletion of data from 23andMe’s platform.

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#adoption#adoptee#adoptions#adopts#adoptees#adopt#transracialadoption#transracialadoptee#internationaladoption#adoptionstory#adoptionstories#adopteestories#adoptioncommunity#adoptionadvocacy#dna#dnatesting#dnagenetics#genetics#genetictesting#china#chinaadoption#23andme#ancestory

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The background is a soft blush pink with rounded abstract shapes. At the center is a circular photo of Paige standing outdoors by a wooden fence in a sandy paddock. She has wavy brown hair, wears a light green floral dress with puff sleeves, and holds a straw hat in her hand while smiling. Above the photo, the name “PAIGE” is written in bold, rounded pink letters with a brown outline. Below the image, text reads: “Youyang City, Chongqing, China to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.”

Adoptee spotlight: Paige

Youyang City, Chongqing, China -> Lancaster, Pennsylvania Hi, my name is Paige! I was born in Youyang City, Chongqing, China, and was...

Aug 17

The background is a light gray filled with scattered pink hearts. At the center is a photo of Rose taking a selfie, partially framed with a torn paper effect. She has long dark hair, wears a cream ruffled top, and has yellow sunglasses resting on her head. A small star tattoo is visible on her wrist as she rests her chin on her hand. Above the photo, the name “ROSE” is written in bold, serif black font. Below the image, text reads: “Hubei, China to Charlottesville, Virginia.”

Adoptee spotlight: Rose

Hubei, China -> Charlottesville, Virginia Hi, my name is Rose. I’m 19 years old and live in Charlottesville, Virginia. I was adopted when...

Jul 19

Adoptee spotlight: Hannah

Guangzhou, China -> United States Hello, my name is Hannah, and I was born in Guangzhou, China, in 2002. I came to the United States when...

Jun 16

23andMe to be acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

What you need to know about the 23andMe sale Slide Text Slide one: 23andMe to be acquired by Regeneron. What you need to know about the...

Jun 8

A collage featuring Liba Mott with a soft pink background. At the top left, her name “Liba Mott” is written in elegant blue script. Four photos are arranged on the page. Top left: Liba stands in a white graduation gown holding a bouquet of flowers under a balloon arch in blue and white. Rows of white chairs and a stage are set up behind her on a green lawn. Top right: Liba sits on steps in a city at night, wearing a white sweater and black pants. Twinkling lights in nearby trees and tall buildings provide a festive, urban background. Bottom left: A baby photo of Liba being held by a woman outdoors, surrounded by greenery. Bottom right: Liba stands on a beach with the Golden Gate Bridge faintly visible in the background. She is holding a turquoise sweatshirt and smiling at the camera. At the bottom of the collage, text reads: “Fuzhou, China to Chicago, Illinois”.

Adoptee spotlight: Liba Mott

Fuzhou, China --> Chicago, Illinois Hello! My name is Liba Mott. I don’t know much about where I come from, besides being born in Fuzhou,...

Jun 3

Discussing DNA testing amid 23andMe's bankruptcy filing

Téa, from Girls Adoption Connect, and Julia, f rom Una Visión Diferente , discuss the importance of reflecting and researching adoptee...

Apr 10

Share Your Story

You’re invited to share your adoption story, reflect on how adoption has shaped your life, or express your thoughts about your adoption journey.

Submissions are welcome through the contribution form. Girls Adoption Connect values every voice and looks forward to hearing from you!

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Unpacking Our Adoption

Discussing DNA testing amid 23andMe's bankruptcy filing

Téa, from Girls Adoption Connect, and Julia, f rom Una Visión Diferente , discuss the importance of reflecting and researching adoptee...

Thinking about my Finding Day 20 years later

By: Téa Tamburo I watched the clock change to midnight. It’s now Nov. 29, and my 20th birthday is officially over. Now, it’s the 20th...

Adoption Awareness

23andMe to be acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

What you need to know about the 23andMe sale Slide Text Slide one: 23andMe to be acquired by Regeneron. What you need to know about the...

The Cradle’s responses to China ending international adoption

Response obtained from an email interview between Girls Adoption Connect and leadership from The Cradle. Responses have been lightly...

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Adoptee spotlight: Paige

Adoptee spotlight: Rose

Adoptee spotlight: Hannah

23andMe to be acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Adoptee spotlight: Liba Mott

Discussing DNA testing amid 23andMe's bankruptcy filing

Share Your Story

Our Stories

Adoptee spotlight: Sonoma

Adoptee spotlight: Sophie

Adoptee spotlight: Jenna Lee Kim

Adoptee spotlight: Sydney

Unpacking Our Adoption

Discussing DNA testing amid 23andMe's bankruptcy filing

Thinking about my Finding Day 20 years later

Adoption Awareness

23andMe to be acquired by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

The Cradle’s responses to China ending international adoption