Laura H. was adopted in a closed adoption, and she shares her memories from her teenage years.

"I think knowing that I was adopted from an early age and always knowing the story of my birth parents' choice to place me up for adoption eased my mind about being adopted. I always knew that I was special, and my parents have always been very open and honest with any questions that I had. I also always had the support from my parents, should I ever choose to look for my birth parents.

"Very few adoptions in the 1980s were open. I don't know if it is fair to ask if I wish it would have been open. Parts of me see how this is very beneficial for adoptees today, especially with medical history, physical characteristics, etc., but I didn't/don't mind it being closed. Whether an open or closed adoption, each has their own set of challenges and things to work on. I didn't know an open adoption, and that was OK.

"Being a teenager was hard. I don't think it was any harder being adopted. I could pull out the 'I am mad at you and wish you never would have adopted me' card, but that is just a form of teenage anger. No matter whether you are adopted or not, being a teenager is tough. But no, I don't think it was any hardernot knowing my birth parents."