Hi! My name is Ali Cogan, and I am a junior at Avenues The World School. I was born in Ethiopia, and at the age of 6 months, I was put up for adoption and immigrated to America with my adoptive family. My whole life I had been told my parents passed away and that was why I was put up for adoption. I had gone 16 constantly thinking about the unknown and wishing I knew something about them. It wasn’t until two months ago that I found out my parents were alive. The unimaginable became reality, and I didn’t know how to handle it. Talking to Xander and Henry helped me understand all my new feelings and influenced me to try and do the same. I want to be that person someone can come to regarding a similar situation, just like Henry and Xander were for me.