Growing up, I never had a big family. It was just my older brother and I. We were always very close because we are only a year and a half apart in age. My older brother, Jackson, is a huge part of so many of my childhood memories. As a family, we were able to travel; I remember those being my favorite times because we were all together. Yet, I longed for a bigger family, more siblings, and more of those close bonds. This has led me to know when it comes time for me to have kids, I want to not only have a big family but adopt children as well.

When I say I want a big family I am not talking about twelve kids. In total, I want five children. I would like to have three of my own first, and then adopt two. Five might seem like a lot of children running around, but that is my dream. I want the big family dinners and matching pajamas on Christmas.

I always thought adopting was a nice idea but it never really struck me as a possibility. It amazed me when I saw my friends’ parents actually adopting children. I thought it was something that just happened in movies or for people with a billion dollars. But that is simply not true.

In the U.S. alone, there are 135,000 children adopted each year. That is truly extraordinary. There are so many kids out there just waiting for a family to adopt them, and the very sad part is all of them are deserving of that family. Some will just be tossed through the foster care system or in orphanages and never find that family and love they are searching for. Each of those children deserves as much of a chance to have a good life as any of us do. If I have the opportunity to give a child that, I will. I don’t think everyone should adopt because it is quite a responsibility, but I think there are some people who are meant to adopt in the future.

I truly believe that one thing I am supposed to do while on this earth is to help people in some way. I have come to the conclusion that adopting is going to be one of the ways I help people. There are so many kids out there that can be given the chance to lead successful lives. With a supportive family, a child has the ability to accomplish so many dreams they couldn’t otherwise.

The ultimate thing I want to give my kids is the ability to dream as big as they can and to help with fulfilling these dreams. My parents had the means to do this for my brother and me, and for that, I am eternally grateful. They have taught me to dream as big as I can and to work hard for the things I am passionate about. My brother and I got to try out every sport, club, and hobby we wanted without question. I can only hope to be as supportive as my parents have been and to let my kids dream as big as I have.