Fall 2025 Winner of the Adopted Child Scholarship

Julia Brown

Throughout her life, Julia has come to deeply value the power of difference. This understanding has nurtured a profound sense of empathy in her, which has compelled her to stand beside others in their struggles. Guided by this passion, she is eager to pursue her legal education.

Read her essay

At six weeks old, I was adopted from the Republic of Georgia into a family that consisted of deep Italian and American roots, as well as a wide array of religious beliefs – including Sikhism, Christianity, Catholicism, and Buddhism. I had two brothers, 18 and 20, one suffering from autism. My father being 53 and my mother being 40, at the time I was adopted, I grew up with parents that were much older than my peers. Having done competitive gymnastics until I was 15 years old, my teammates often questioned why my parents were much older than theirs. I found myself revealing my adoption to explain the age gap. It was difficult to grow up and feel interrogated by questions all the time about why I looked different from my family.

There was never a moment that I remember being sat down and told that I had been adopted. I remember always feeling like I knew from the start. It was never something that my parents hid from me. There was never a moment that I thought I was valued any less than my siblings. My parents spoke about my adoption with pride, never secrecy. I had a strong sense of unconditional acceptance for as long as I can remember. Knowing how much this had an impact on me, it has shaped the way that I treat others. I seem to be fascinated by every person’s unique journey.

My father was a doctor, the smartest person I knew. He was the one who tried to convince my mom to adopt the entire orphanage. He had the biggest heart, and I remember being so happy that he was my dad. But after his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, things were so hard at home and he could no longer perform any task alone, which was extremely tough to watch. After a few years he could no longer get out of bed, he was put on hospice and passed away about three weeks after. My life took a huge pivot in this moment, everything changed. My home was silent. The feeling of a clock that stopped ticking rushed over my whole body for days, it felt so

empty. I didn’t know what to do with myself. Knowing he passed away when I was only 18, I couldn’t bear the thought that he was gone and would never get to see all of my life milestones yet to come.

Being raised in a family that prioritized values and the community, pure biology never felt like something setting me apart from the rest of them. I learned how to embrace my differences and find strength in them. After my father passed away, my mother felt so guilty for bringing me into this family. She and my dad wanted to give me the best life anyone could have imagined. Being in a family that I had a one-in-a-billion chance of being in, she wondered why it went the way it did. But what she doesn’t understand is that I see it differently. These hardships have shaped my desire to value empathy and ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging.

About a year after my father’s passing, I grew to learn that the most important thing I will ever have is family. As an adopted child, being brought into this family gave me the feeling that I was exactly where I was supposed to be and that I had the opportunity to gain valuable perspectives from such a unique experience. My father always made jokes about how I would be a great lawyer. I used to argue all the time, thinking my parents were wrong and I was right. Now that it has been four years since his passing, I can confidently say I live every day for him. I always strive to be the best person I can be and I want to live knowing I make him proud.

Being adopted wasn’t about gaining a home. This journey has taught me to lead with my heart and adapt between worlds. Being able to sit front row and watch how love surpasses genetics is a value that provides me with a unique perspective on life. The qualities I've learned throughout my life will serve me as I pursue a legal education, to fight for individuals who cannot fight on their own.

This scholarship would not only support my legal education, it would honor the journey that I’ve taken to get here. It would allow me to honor my parents by continuing on this path that they’ve helped me through, and to help others find justice and dignity. My parents gave me a second chance at life, and this scholarship would provide me with a step closer to the promise I made to myself after my dad passed: to live a life of perseverance and meaning.