Out of the almost 4 million children that are born in the United States every year, about 18,000 of them are being given away for adoption. While it is unfortunate that these children cannot grow up with their birth families, they can enter a new family through adoption. Not only is this an opportunity for them to obtain the life that they deserve, but it also offers the adoptive parents an opportunity to have a child.
That being said, while adoption is perceived as a good thing, it can significantly impact the life of the people involved. Most troubles usually occur when the child reaches school or college years. In this article, we will find out how being adopted can affect the life of a student, be it emotionally or socially.
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Difficulty Fitting In
Some children grow up feeling content with their new lives, thankful for having adoptive parents that took such good care of them. However, others may grow up with low self-esteem or identity issues due to the knowledge that they were given away. Such a student may not know where exactly they “fit in,” leaving them unable to form any emotional attachments to any group.
Very often, these negative feelings are short-lived, but they are most obvious starting at the age of 17. Their coping mechanism is to be resilient, especially if they were adopted later on in life. This can make it more difficult for them to fit into groups or join social activities that non-adopted students usually do.
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Lack of Information
After being adopted, the general idea is that a child should live with their new family, the birth parents relinquishing every right. Psychologically speaking, this may be beneficial for the child, as they can grow up in a normal family environment. However, many illnesses or genes, be they mental or physical, make their appearance during their teenage years. Unless the student has access to their family history, they may have difficulties getting over the problem.
If the person was adopted through an open or semi-open adoption, this problem may potentially be solved. However, if it was a closed adoption, it can be very difficult for an adopted person to find out their medical history. This method of adoption is very common in Texas. Without very good adoption lawyers in Texas that can get through the legal cracks, the child may have difficulties finishing school due to chronic problems.
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Lack of Privacy
People have it in their nature to want to gossip, or at least want to be in the loop for anything different that is happening around them. Students are often even more inquisitive. Being adopted is a particularly hot topic, especially if it is obvious that one of their classmates is adopted (i.e., interracial adoption).
This may lead to them asking many questions of the adoptee, sometimes in an unsolicited manner. This kind of attention can become annoying very quickly, sometimes even hurtful, if the child does not know how to handle the situation.
If they had known about the adoption from the very beginning, they might have grown comfortable enough with the idea to be able to talk. However, if they only find out later in life about the adoption, then this can lead to a lot of social discomfort in the child.
If the student is a sensitive person, then it may lead to them being teased or bullied. Repeated exposure to this kind of treatment can make them react in a negative manner, such as closing themselves off or starting fights.
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Better Socioeconomic Status
While being adopted can negatively affect students in some ways, there are also several positive effects to keep in mind. For one, adopted students tend to have a better socio-economic status compared to non-adopted ones. This gives them better access to education, student gear, desired subjects, and other opportunities.
This happens because adoptive parents have to meet a few requirements. The first one is that they need to be financially stable and prepared to raise a child. Since adopted children are less likely to fall below the poverty line, their chances of dropping out of school are lower. They are also significantly more involved with them and their education, which may lead to better performance at school.
The Bottom Line
Being adopted is usually a good opportunity for children, as it offers them a better chance for higher education. That being said, this family situation may also lead to several discomforts. Unless dealt with early on in life, it may affect their college life as well.
