Juniper, 16 years old, VA

Wish submitted by:

Juniper is a thoughtful, gentle, and quietly funny young woman who has spent much of her life in foster care and is currently in residential treatment, working through years of instability and loss. Art has always been a meaningful way for her to express emotions that are difficult to put into words. Despite the challenges she has faced, Juniper continues to work toward healing and dreams of becoming an art therapist so she can help other young people express themselves through creativity.

In a place where days are full of structure and hard, important work, Juniper treasures her quiet moments with a coloring page. Filling in a detailed design, one careful section at a time, helps her slow down, breathe, and settle her mind when feelings feel too big. An adult coloring book would give her pages of intricate patterns, nature scenes, and mandalas to lose herself in, each one a calm, creative break she can enjoy at her own pace. It would also give her something to show off, a finished page she can be proud of, taped up in her space or shared with the staff who cheer her on. Juniper is working hard to heal, and this is a gentle tool to support her along the way.