At best, he told me there would be a 50% chance that he could find my birth parents.
Then, I got lucky: He found them within three days.
Since then, I’ve been to Russia a couple times to see my family (my mother, grandmother, and cousins). It’s been a very positive experience.
Regarding my adoptive family, I guess I lucked out there, too: My adoptive mother and I are very close. Just a little while ago, when I was home, my mother told me that if I ever needed help, she would be there for me.
My dad has always been very friendly and happy. I’ve never been as close with him as I am with my mom, but we still get along.
I think adoption has a bad stigma in America. People find out that you’re adopted, and they assume you’re challenged – or maybe uneducated. I totally believe in adoption. I always have. Giving a child a second chance is important and necessary. I just think that society doesn’t know how to respond appropriately to adoption.
Now, I’m finishing college and moving on with my life. I’m very involved in adoption and I want to see Russia lift the ban on adoptions to the US.