I can't imagine my life without the camp experience. And I can't speak as a camper, only as leadership, but I have to say it has changed the person I am. There are so many questions growing up, identity struggles, teenage angst and most of all trying to figure out who I was.
The panels gave me a rare insight on what other adoptees think, feel and experience, as well as how parents view,act and respond, to their children. Its a special connection we achieve in these panels. Parents get to see up close and personal, what it's like to be an adoptee. And sometimes, adoptees get to say out loud what and how they feel for the first time. It's hard to always articulate how and what we are feeling, and the vocabulary isn't always there for us to address our issues.
For some it's an easy transition from realizing we are adopted and assimilating into our environment. For others its a constant struggle, and for them I write this blog. I had a great childhood, and I love my parents, but there were struggles, avoidance, denial of feelings and not enough information to deal with adopting a child of color. I can't blame my parents entirely, but I can recognize the issues we had and what kind of environment that created.
I realize for some adoptees that our journeys are all different, and for some the questions and struggles come later on in life. I love the fact that we have a community where we can talk about it, share and support each other. That's what's most important to me. Just a thought I was having today......
