Anthony, 15 years old, CA | 3 DAYS WAITING

Wish submitted by:

Anthony has been in the system for quite a while now and experienced a significant amount of trauma early in his life. From chronic exposure of partner violence and further abuse when placed in foster care, Anthony still presents himself as a loving and caring young man, longing to be accepted by others and hoping to feel safe and secure in the future to begin his journey within the adult world, reaching for personal independence and success

Anthony wishes for a Nintendo Switch with a Mario Kart game, a fun and engaging way to build his fine motor skills and improve his cognitive functioning, both of which have been an ongoing battle due to living much of his daily life in survival mode as a result of early childhood trauma and abuse. Mario Kart's fast-paced, competitive gameplay would give Anthony a genuinely enjoyable outlet to sharpen these skills without it ever feeling like work. Anthony is trying his best in school despite being in a learning situation that goes beyond his understanding. Because Anthony spent so much time alone as a young child, he learned to entertain himself, and his social skills are still underdeveloped as a result. As a four-player game, Mario Kart would also give him a fun, low-pressure way to connect with others and start building real friendships through something he already loves. When it comes to gaming, Anthony truly shines. He's remarkably knowledgeable and can talk at length about video games, how to use coding to advance levels, and tactics for defeating opponents in two-player battle games.