For Ruby Rios Hsu born on July 5th, 2003, her ‘first welcome’ had begun. Little did she know that her ‘second welcome’ was very close.

Born to a birth mother and four biological siblings, Hsu was very near to a new welcome, with a new family. After only seven short days in Macon, Georgia, Hsu was adopted in Atlanta, Georgia, entering what she called ‘the second welcome.’

Immediately after the adoption, Hsu moved with her new family to Seattle, Washington. Welcome. She arrived to a new big brother who was also adopted, named Ezra.

“Growing up with a brother was so much fun,” Hsu said. “We would play fight all the time and just have great times together. When any adoption papers needed signing, he would sign them for me, because he loved me so much.”

As a result of living in Seattle, Hsu grew up a very happy child. “I was such a happy child because of living in Seattle, it’s like the greatest place in the United States,” Hsu said.

On Hsu’s fourth birthday, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Welcome. As a 4-year-old girl, Hsu attended Ann Arbor Learning Community and Burns Park Elementary. She described herself as a young class clown. She remembers having a high voice and being a friend to all, hanging out with everyone at recess.

Hsu began her middle school years at Tappan Middle School in 2014. In her three years at Tappan, she found her love of the German language. Hsu’s mother and father already knew the language and often spoke it with her, so she took it upon herself to learn as well. When talking to Hsu, you can often find her saying common phrases in German. Now, Hsu takes the German 2 class at Pioneer High School.

Along the winding, welcoming road, Hsu has met many family members from all different sides. With her being an African American, her large family has many different ethnicities mixed together. Her mother is Mexican-American, her father Asian American, and her brother Ezra being Asian American as well. Mixed in with all that, a member of her extended family is the most important person in Hsu’s life: Aunt Sadita.

“Her job is just to help people be happy and be comfortable,” Hsu said. “She gets paid to travel around the world to help people. And even when she herself couldn’t talk, because of the breathing tube she has, she was the most supportive person I’d ever met.” Hsu grew up idolizing Sadita because she wished to one day be just as supportive and welcoming as her Aunt.

As a child brought up in the adoption process, Hsu always had dreams for her children to always feel wanted.

“I want my children to be supported in all the ways possible,” Hsu said. “I want them to have really big dreams so, if they want to build a rocket-ship, I’ll be there to help them build the biggest rocket-ship ever. I hope they appreciate everything they have more than I do. I want them to put themselves into the world so they can have all the opportunities they want.”

Hsu also shares her hopes. She hopes to one day meet her birth mom and little brother. “There’s just something about having someone who looks like you,” Hsu said.

Everyone is welcomed to this world we call home in different ways, whether it’s one welcome to zillions of welcomes. For those who reach ‘the second welcome,’ like Hsu, she has a few words of advice. “When being adopted, don’t think of it as someone giving you away, but rather someone giving you a better opportunity for a better life,” Hsu said. “Be open to the new family you are welcomed in and realize it is all revolved around love.”