Sue's Graduation Address

"Thank you for coming here tonight. A lot of you knew how it was to grow up. I grew up in different families. However, I learned a very valuable thing and that is to like myself for who I am. I've learned through Casey Family Services how to respect people as well as myself and how to live on my own.

"In school, I made a stuffed gingerbread man with these words on it: 'Hello, my name is Susan. Please take me home with you.' I gave this to Larry and Kassy who became my family. I remember and will always remember reading a newsletter called Maine Woman. It touched deeply in my heart-it told of my life with my family. It said, 'When we found out that Susie had a medical diagnosis-we could have put her back where she came from. But we didn't because we love her as our own daughter, and she will always be our daughter.'

"I'm living on my own now and have two cats and two dogs. I've accomplished a lot of goals.

"I won't miss being a foster child because I didn't feel like I was a normal kid since a lot of my friends live in their own biological families. Also, I won't miss Casey Family Services because they will always be there to point me in the right direction."