I’m Proud to Be An Adoptee
“I don’t think I would have ever been given so many opportunities to follow my dreams and my heart if I were not adopted. I wouldn’t change my life for anything. I am proud to be an adoptee…”
My name is Elena, and I’m from Washington, DC. I was born June 19, 1987, in Prince George’s County, Maryland to a woman named Hilda Guerra. Six days later I was placed into foster care with my foster mother Maureen, who then adopted me. I came to her still with my hospital bracelet on and without a name. I was still baby girl Guerra. After some time had gone by, Maureen decided to adopt me. My adoption was finalized April 16, 1992. I have an older brother, Tyrone, who was adopted as well.
My life as an adoptee has probably been a different experience than many other adoptees. I actually didn’t know I was adopted when I was growing up since my mother was all I knew. I had no other experiences other than those with her, so I truly believe she is my mother. I am fortunate because I grew up with friends who were also adopted. All of us went to the same babysitter, so we always had each other for support. My best friends for my entire life are adopted and it is a topic of conversation often. We all had our ups and downs and struggled with being adopted or felt misunderstood, but we always had each other to fall back on or discuss our struggles with since we have all been there.
In the end, I am thankful to both of my mothers, my adopted and my birth, for what they have done for me. My birth mother gave me up so I could have opportunities that she may not have been able to provide for me. My adopted mother has given me the world. She raised me by herself and put me through private school my entire life. I have had so many experiences I don’t think I would have ever had, and I have been given so many opportunities to follow my dreams and my heart. I wouldn’t change my life for anything.
I am proud to be an adoptee.
Jessenia Parmer
I'm Jessenia. I am an adult adoptee with 10 years of experience advocating and fostering relationships with adoptees, and over five years of experience teaching adoptive parents how to have a successful and genuine relationship with their adopted child.
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AWWW…I follow Elena on twitter, and we talk every once and a while…I did not know all of that about her…..she's so sweet!
You know I definitely wan to help in D.C, and Im sure Mike would too, especially since he lives there and his favorite nephew is adopted, that little boy is his world!It is so amazing to see!:)
Very well written Elena and Jay! Love you both! You guys are going to do amazing things together 🙂
Alyrical, you know for the time i have known elena i didnt know much until i asked for her story. lol. the same thing happened when i read and listened to Renee DeLuca story (below). i will def keep u posted about 2010 projects!
So glad to be featured on the blog. Thanks!
I think that hearing about your search and reading your blog you've inspired me to atleast give thought to starting my search. In the future I believe I would like to search for my birth family or atleast my mother since I'm not sure my father even has the slightest clue he has a child. It would be a future endeavor tho which I would most def ask your help with.
My brother and I don't talk at all about being adopted or at all period. His situation is very different from mine. He knows and sees both of his parents and all of his siblings. He lived with his parents until about age 4 and then was removed for foster care/adoption.
i am so glad i was able to inspire you in any way, in the end thats what its all about, awareness. i will def be there when you are ready to do your search.i would love it! wow, i didnt know that your brother talks to his b-fam! ohhh so that is def something else. where is your b-mom from? and for the sake of me, what the heck is your nationality? i think i have been wondering that for the longest. lol.
I'm full of surprises. 🙂 my birth mother is from Maryland as far as I know. I'm puerto rican. My father is supposed to be living there. Mom said when I was born my bmom had to advertise there before I was put upfor adoption so he could come get me if he wanted.
wow, so she is actually right around the corner from you. imagine that. my mom said the same thing in my adoption, they had to post some info in the newspaper to see if anyone claims me, sound kinda freaky huh??? i dont like the sound of it when i think of it. 8 years later from the date an no one claimed me so…finally the state gave in and made it official.
Um…i really want to talk to this girl. I have some really weird things in common.