Rachel Kara Pérez became a Mentor in 2018. She is a multidisciplinary artist and educator who focuses her work on using the arts as a social justice tool to uplift and advocate for communities of marginalized peoples. Learn more about Rachel’s experience as an adoptee and Mentor.
你想分享啲咩關於你嘅背景？
I was born in The Bronx, a black, mixed race, Latinx child raised in a predominantly Puerto Rican household.
你屋企人點樣同你分享你嘅收養故事？
We always had children’s books talking about adoption and my parents always expressed their respect and admiration for my birth mother for making such a difficult decision. As I grew older, I pressed for more details which had not been provided, because I felt I should have had access to them at an earlier age.
你作為一個被收養者遇到過啲咩神話或者誤解？
That being adopted is automatically something to pity or feel bad about, that everyone wants to meet their biological parents, that my parents are somehow saviors for adopting someone (which I believe is a problematic viewpoint to hold).
你幾時開始加入斯彭斯 - 查潘嘅導師計劃？
A few years ago, I went to Spence-Chapin to gather non-identifying information pertaining to my own adoption and my case worker at the time suggested that I would be a good mentor. I didn’t follow up again for a few years, but I’m glad that I did.
你做導師嘅經驗係點？
It’s been almost a surreal experience to be in a room with all adopted folks. It has made me feel less alone and grounded me in a community I had not previously felt part of.
I enjoy spending time with the Mentees, and just getting to know them individually. I appreciate their curiosities and how for quite a few of them, the Mentorship Program provides a safe space for them where they can be themselves, explore their identities, even those that go beyond adoption, and make new friends. As a Mentor I have also made new friends and been able to connect with people on a deeper level on such specific identity overlaps; that I really don’t think I could have found that anywhere else. It has also been a healing experience for me.
你同導師計劃嘅年輕收養者分享啲咩建議？
Ask questions, regardless of who it makes uncomfortable. You have a right to your adoption story, to your history. You have a right to speak your truth. It’s ok to want to know more, and it’s also ok to not want to know. It’s an ongoing process, and it will feel different depending on the day. Hopefully, being in community with other adopted children will help you navigate this identity and provide you with a community in which you can find refuge.
—
斯彭斯 - 查平嘅 收養導師計劃 係針對收養嘅中學生。我哋嘅計劃透過友誼、建立自信同埋挑戰佢哋去發現同理解佢哋嘅收養身份同經歷，令收養者有能力。如果想了解更多有關以受導者或導師身份加入呢個計劃嘅資訊，請聯絡我哋： [email protected] or sign up for our FREE Mentorship Webinar!