Congratulations to the 2024 Holt Adoptee Scholarship winners — Jayden Waggoner, Rosy Tate and Shaelynn Pelusio.
In 2024, we asked adoptees to submit a creative work responding to the prompt, “What is the one thing you want to tell parents starting the adoption process, and how would this advice have impacted your adoption journey?”
This topic was chosen by adoptee professionals who work on Holt’s post-adoption services team. They chose this prompt in order to offer adoptees creative freedom in a safe environment to tell their story and describe their adoption journey. We were moved and impressed by all of the adoptee submissions!
Deliberately left in a state of chaos, the piece mirrors the confusing journey of growing up as an adoptee.
Jayden Waggoner was adopted from China. She currently attends Oregon State University, where she plans to major in psychology. Jayden chose to answer the prompt by creating a piece of artwork and describes its significance below.
Here is her response:
The legend of 1,000 cranes has always inspired me. Throughout my childhood, I wished to connect with my birth parents, a wish intertwined with my love for folding cranes. In making this artwork, each crane holds significance. The largest one bears the word “Adoption,” symbolizing the central theme. Medium-sized cranes carry questions and comments I’ve encountered repeatedly, while the smaller ones feature words encapsulating the adoptee experience. Deliberately left in a state of chaos, the piece mirrors the confusing journey of growing up as an adoptee.
This artwork serves as a portrayal of the adoptee experience — its complexity and challenges. Zooming in reveals intricate details, representing the tough days where details dominate, while zooming out offers a broader perspective, representing the easier days or the entire journey.
Reflecting on my own journey, I would advise prospective parents starting the adoption process to brace themselves for difficult days and simply provide unwavering support. Adoption is inherently intricate, and sometimes, the most meaningful support involves empathetically navigating our emotions and building safe spaces for their expression. Such validation and support would have significantly eased my emotional journey and fostered a greater sense of connection with adoption from a younger age.
Did you know Holt provides support to all adoptees?
Every adoptee has a unique and complex life experience. Holt strives to support all adoptees, regardless of their placing agency, by providing help with birth search, citizenship and more.
