Other adoptees help me see and understand my own experience

Guest post by Nathan Faust, adoptee and former OA&FS board member

Growing up openly adopted, I developed relationships with both my biological and adoptive families. This privilege made it so that I not only know my medical history, but I’m able to find answers to any questions I have about my life. However, I didn’t have access to one important thing growing up: others who could relate to my experience.

A few years ago, when I was a board member, I started a monthly affinity group for OA&FS adoptees. While I initially just saw this as a way of building community, I didn’t predict how this group would transform me. I’ve learned to approach my own life differently through this group.

Candidly, we don’t focus on adoption that much. The group is primarily a place where we can be in community among others with a similar experience. However, every month, I listen to people share their stories and see myself in how they approach the world. While we don’t have the same backgrounds or stories, people I’ve just met can directly address feelings I’ve never been able to explain.

I hear people speak about their own life experiences and their reactions mirror my own– I hadn’t had this feeling before. Being a part of this group has reinforced to me how important it is to find others who’ve lived a similarly unique experience.

This group is a space of community and we’d love to welcome other adoptees who might benefit from this connection! If you would like to engage with the affinity group, please let me know, and I’m happy to provide further information.