Allow us to introduce you to the amazing Aleena! Do you love to cook or bake and are you looking for a fun-loving teen to share this passion with? Aleena enjoys whipping up tasty dishes in the kitchen and even creating her own recipes, which is exactly what she wanted to do for her In-Depth Profile. Aleena is “excited, but nervous” to meet her permanent family so she can focus on being a “normal teen.”
Aleena likes to wear makeup and loves shopping for clothes. She deserves loving adults to pamper her and help her with valuing and pampering her own special self! In Aleena’s own words, “attention is my biggest need.” She loves to spend time with her friends and loves to chat about what's going on with their mutual friends at school. She enjoys listening to music or watching funny videos online (not on TikTok though!). Aleena really cares about others. She’s a good friend and will check in with those she cares about when she sees that they are having a tough day.
Another thing to know about Aleena is that she LOVES animals! She looks forward to having a family who cares for animals too. She can’t wait to have a pet of her own to bond with and care for. A pet will help her further develop a sense of ownership and responsibility. Speaking of which, Aleena enjoys all that goes into meal planning, cooking, and baking. She is a great help in the kitchen and her current placement really appreciates the extra hand she provides. Aleena loves to try new foods, especially if she’s involved in the preparation. Are you ready to explore some new recipes, like her delicious-looking lava cake?
Aleena works hard and thrives on clear goals and achievements to strive for. She would benefit from a family that will be her cheerleader and help her refocus, bounce back, and try again. This applies to school as well. Aleena would benefit from someone who can help her with her math in particular, whether it be her caregiver or additional support. With her future adoptive family's commitment, Aleena can continue developing a new ethic around the importance and long term value of education.
Aleena deserves nurturing support as she works on establishing her own strong sense of self, interests, and cultivating leadership. A creative at heart, Aleena benefits from encouragement to explore her many talents. She likes art and music, as well as making things with her hands. Some of her favorite activities outside the kitchen include kayaking, swimming, singing, hiking, having movie nights, and “anything that involves family time.” In the future, Aleena would love to be able to explore scuba diving!
Most importantly, Aleena deserves a family who is committed to her, for now and for always. As we all do, Aleena truly desires to be seen and loved, and would thrive with the opportunity to be a family's shining star. Reassurance, encouragement, structure, and patient redirection are all family qualities that will benefit and help Aleena to continue growing into the amazing young woman that she is. Aleena deserves a caregiver devoted to building trust, a sense of safety, and to demonstrate again and again that they are there for her. Aleena would do best in a two-parent home with caregivers who act as a team and communicate well together. As Aleena puts it, “I just want someone to call mom and dad and someone to be there for me.” While it would be great for her to be the only child, she would also benefit from living with siblings who are her age or older for her to look toward as mentors.
Aleena is so ready for this new chapter to begin. She is eager to meet her future adoptive family and begin the rest of her life. While Aleena would prefer to find a West Coast family, other families who feel they are a great fit should still have their workers inquire! Aleena is an incredible young teenager who deserves to find parents who are as amazing and special as she is.