My life story is unique. It starts 5,000 miles away in St. Petersburg, Russia in June of 1998. A baby girl in an orphanage, in a room full of other little girls, and what were we missing? Parents. After nine months, lots of paperwork, twelve hour flights, and plenty of money later, Larry and Barbara Jay were able to bring me to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Nature: by definition is hereditary characteristics, usually innate or essential qualities or character of a person. *

Nature gave me my body type, my susceptibility to disease, and my talents and personality to an extent. I have been blessed with musical abilities that I enjoy expressing through playing my french horn. My parents are not musically talented, and thus this piece of me is a result of my birth mother in Russia.

Nurture: by definition is related to upbringing, and the encouragement of growth or development of someone. *

Nurture has privileged me with a passion for volunteer service activities. I have participated through my church, Bethel Presbyterian Church, in many mission activities, and received the Prudential Volunteer Service Award for my work. My parents have also given me the freedom to make informed decisions with a lot of consideration like when I joined the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. I made a list detailing reasons for it to be a favorable versus an unfavorable choice to join including time commitment, cost, and enjoyment. My parents have fostered my love of music through my school’s strong music department.

My parents’ decision to travel 5,000 miles to adopt me makes me feel very blessed. I am the result of my parents’ fruitful labors of love, and the extra mile they put in to embrace me as their daughter. My favorite quote comes from the "Legacy of an Adopted Child" that was written by an unknown author,

“And now you ask me

Through your tears,

The age-old question

Through the years:

Heredity or environment

Which are you the product of?

Neither, my darling -- neither,

Just two different kinds of love.”

Maria Jay: by definition is a unique person who is a result of these two different kinds of love. A young woman who values her parents and her home in the United States more than most. If I was not adopted by my parents, I would become another statistic of the 4 million orphans in Russia. My parents are the most important constant in my life, and I am thankful everyday for them and the opportunities they have provided me with.

18 years ago I was among many others waiting in hope, and now I wait in hope to become a successful business student in college.

*According to Merriam Webster