At the end of May, we attended the American College Health Association conference in New Orleans—our very first time exhibiting on behalf of Adoptee Identity. We were ready. What we weren’t prepared for was the emotional impact our presence would have.

To truly support adoptees' mental health, colleges must acknowledge adoption as a core identity experience—not just a background fact.

College is a critical period when questions of identity, belonging, family, and purpose often come to the forefront—especially for adoptees. So the question becomes: Are we prepared to support them?