"Being an adoptee, while a central part of who she is, is not her “whole story.” In fact, when people first meet Lucy, they notice her emotional intelligence and hardworking disposition."
Lucy was adopted from the Jiangxi province as an infant at 8 months old. She was raised in West Virginia by her single mother along with her younger sister, who was also adopted from China. The small town she grew up in was primarily white, so most of her exposure to Chinese culture consisted of traveling to Pittsburgh for Chinese New Year. Since leaving her hometown to pursue a bachelors and masters in Social Work from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, Lucy appreciates that she’s been able to learn more about diversity and new perspectives. She has also been able to define her identity as an adoptee through a more mature lens. Being an adoptee, while a central part of who she is, is not her “whole story.” In fact, when people first meet Lucy, they notice her emotional intelligence and hardworking disposition. She prefers to be seen for her values and character – attributes which lend themselves well to her job in social work. When reflecting on her own adoptee journey, Lucy speaks candidly about confronting the loss that adoption stems from and reconciling that with the opportunities and good things in her life that have also emerged. She says that the adoptee community is helpful to lean on since many adoptees face a similar paradox. In addition to this, Lucy’s adoptee journey has led her to investigate her neurotype. Growing up, Lucy struggled with common stereotypes about Asian intelligence, but since learning more about herself, Lucy is accepting of her neurodivergence and is more cognizant of the less visible challenges people may face. Her exploration and identity as an adoptee make her more empathetic in her work. Lucy wants to help those who have experienced trauma in having the best life possible. When she’s not working or engaged in the adoptee community, Lucy enjoys spending time with her family and watching a variety of TV shows and movies.
Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2024.