Rowan, 18 years old, VA | 14 DAYS WAITING

Wish submitted by:

The Friends of Foster Care

Rowan entered foster care as a child and has spent his teenage years in a series of homes where he never quite fit in. Some of the other kids teased him for still loving the toys and games they had outgrown, and over time he learned to hide that part of himself. He is quiet, a little awkward, and slow to trust new people, and he has often felt lonely in rooms full of people. Beyblade battles and online gaming became his refuge, a place where he could be himself and feel like part of a community that valued his skills. Preparing to age out of care, Rowan is working hard to finish school and figure out what comes next. It isn’t easy, and some days he struggles to see how he fits into the adult world. But he is kind, loyal, and endlessly enthusiastic about the things he loves, and he lights up around anyone who takes the time to join him. He’s looking for people who will meet him where he is.

Many of Rowan’s closest friendships are with people he has met through online games, and he treasures those conversations more than most people realize. A gaming headset would let him talk with his teammates, laugh along with them, and join in on the fun instead of staying silent on the sidelines. For a young man who often feels isolated in person, that connection matters. It would give him a way to be heard and to feel like he belongs.