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SALT LAKE CITY — Aria is a 15-year-old girl who lives up to her name.
"I like to sing," she said as she hummed her favorite song.
But her voice isn't the only sweet thing about her. Aria says she feels the most comfortable around animals.
"I'm this girl who is very shy and very scared," she said.
Aria likes to spend time at the South Utah Valley Animal Shelter. It's a place where neglected, forgotten and abused animals are cared for. Each day the animals wait to be adopted.
"I feel bad for them because they were abandoned," she said.
Something this teen unfortunately knows all about.
"I want to be adopted just as much as you do," she said to the cat.
For the past eight years, Aria has lived in the Utah Foster Care System. She too knows what its like not to have a home.
"I know these animals deserve a good home just as much as I do, so I can relate to them."
Aria now lives in a group home.
"It's hard," she said. "It's very structured. There isn't a lot of freedom."
Sometimes I lose hope thinking that I'll always be alone. I have feelings that no one wants me.
–Aria
Each day Aria hopes for adoption; something she admits as the years pass becomes harder to do.
"Sometimes I lose hope thinking that I'll always be alone," she said. "I have feelings that no one wants me."
She's asking for a chance to be part of a family.
"One who loves me, understand me and accepts me for who I am."
Until that day comes, Aria plans to keep a smile on her face and a song in her heart.
If you would like to learn more about Aria or the many other children in the Utah foster care system, contact The Adoption Exchange.
