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SALT LAKE CITY — Most teenagers aren't too eager to spend an afternoon in a painting class, but Kody said he's not like other boys his age. He speaks with a wisdom far beyond his 16 years.
"In the world we live in now, there's not many chances where you can be yourself or be who you want to be," Kody said.
Perhaps that realization came from his difficult past.
"(I've been through) most things kids wouldn't have to go through, but it's okay," he said.
Kody entered the foster care system on a day when families usually gather together.
"It was on Christmas Eve 2012," he said.
Since then, he's learned a lot about himself and who he wants to be. He's found he's artistic and loves to paint.
"It's hard to explain," he said. "I've always liked watching that weird bearded guy paint."
He hopes to go to college to learn more about interior design. But most of all, he wants to feel accepted for who he is.
"Rejection makes me sad," he said. "It's hard to deal with sometimes, and I've been dealing with it most my life. You learn to deal with it after awhile."
Kody needs and deserves a stable home with loving parents, but like any great masterpiece, finding a family takes time. It's something Kody said he won't give up on.
"You always have to have hope in a situation like this," he said. "If you've lost hope, you've lost everything."
