Minnesota's Waiting Child

Michael, 16, writes this to prospective parents:

"Family, family is important to me. It feels like I'm free. Free to just be me. I get judged a lot. I tell them to stop. My family won't do that. They won't think to judge me, not even by a tad. To me people say they love me, day in and day out, they think they have the key. I know there are problems to come, but a family will talk about them and then some. I wish I had a family that could just be there, 'cause all I had in life was nothing but air. These are the things I want in a family, but most importantly I want a family to just accept me."

Michael is extremely motivated. Although reserved, he participates in many school activities. He plays saxophone in the band and is a member of the chess and robotics-Lego clubs. This past summer he took a money management class for teens and is studying Chinese. Michael is receiving A's and B's for his mid-quarter reports. He has kept in touch with a few of his relatives and would like to continue to do so.