- Image via Wikipedia
Seven-year-old Katie Goldman put adoption on the map recently when the adopted first grader fell prey to bullying in her school. Katie Goldman, a self-proclaimed Star Wars nut, couldn’t wait to take her new Star Wars water bottle to school. In a few days, however, Katie informed her mom she didn’t want to take the bottle to school anymore. When asked why, Katie confessed that boys at school were teasing her about her water bottle, insisting that Star Wars was only for boys.
Like any good blogger, Katie’s mom took to the internet to tell her little girl’s story and to ask any female Star Wars fans to send Katie a message telling her they, too, liked Star Wars. The response was overwhelming.
Female Star Wars fans from all over the internet campaigned for Katie, leaving sweet messages telling her to be proud of her Star Wars fandom. The messages gave little Katie enough courage to wear a Star Wars shirt to school and loudly proclaim her love of the galaxy far, far away.
Internet users banded together to make December 10th “Wear Star Wars–Share Star Wars” Day. People all over the country wore Star Wars clothes and donated Star Wars toys to charities. Katie’s story became every little girl’s story who has ever been teased for being different.
As Katie’s mom, Carrie, recorded on the “Portrait of an Adoption” blog, Katie said to her mom when everything started, “I’m already different. Nobody else in my class wears glasses or a patch, and nobody else was adopted. Now I’m even more different, because of my Star Wars water bottle.” Now Katie has the courage to embrace the things that make her special.
Adopted kids may feel like outsiders sometimes, but it’s heartwarming to know that the internet will come to the defense of a child who’s being bullied.