Child Profiles
Robby, born May 1993
If there is one thing that Robby enjoys it is discovery. This curious young man cannot get enough of science and problem solving. In fact, he has come up with several incredible inventions that might just change how we live our lives.
“Yes I like to think of inventions,” he says, straightening himself in his chair. “I have some ideas to make some things better and to succeed on (other) thing(s), but I haven't written down any notes. I pretty much worked it out in my mind. So all I need is the materials and to patent it.”
And what has this young inventor come up so far? “You know those turbines they make? I don’t know if they've actually made them but, I made a self-sustaining turbine.” He holds his hands up in front of him, staring at a space boxed between his fingers and thumbs. The turbine will be small, he explains. It will create a good amount of energy and, most importantly, it will bring convenience to our hectic everyday lives. This invention “makes electricity to (charge) any, like, CD players or to charge your cell phone when you don’t have a car charger.”
How will this invention work? “It’s a little complicated,” Robby admits. “You know the magnets that they use in regular turbines? I’ll need those and of course a lot of string. Strong string that won’t break from friction.” He explains the logistics of his invention in great detail. The magnets, the wire, the casings. But he might not want all of that information shared until after he gets that much-needed patent. By then, it will all be ready for the technology market.
Robby has been thinking about new creations for as long as he can remember. “I can’t really remember why I started wanting to invent things. I started actually making things up - what to invent or whatever (when I was small),” he says. And his imagination helps him to create some pretty amazing things - things many of us might never have thought possible. “I don’t know… my brain surprises me sometimes!”
When he is not using his imagination to come up with new concepts and products, Robby enjoys exploring the world of fiction. He is an avid reader with a passion for fantasy novels. Robby’s list of favorite authors is a long one. “Christopher Paoloni, the one that wrote Eldest and Eragon and I think he's going to do a third book. Uh, J.K. Rowling, of course - Harry Potter. I like R.L. Stein... K.A. Applegate for The Animorphs and that’s about it.”
With such a sharp mind and an eagerness to learn, it is no surprise that Robby loves school. In the eighth grade this year, Robby is doing very well academically. His grades are a wonderful reflection of his scholastic ability. He explains, “Well, I've gotten A's on language arts, math, P.E., reading, lunch - of course - and I've gotten a B on social studies and an A on science and an A on R.S. (reading skills).”
“My best subject is actually reading because I love reading. It’s actually one of my favorite things to do,” Robby explains. In fact, he says, “If I had free time and I had a good book to read I'd either read or I'd - of course - I like inventing things too. So I'd either invent (or read)…. So my best subject is actually reading.” And, by his own admission, his least favorite subjects include math and social studies. He mentions with a giggle, “I mean I hate math but I can still be good at it!”
“On Tuesdays after school I like to go to a Spanish club ‘cause I'm trying to learn some Spanish,” he says. His language skills seem to be coming along nicely. “I know a little bit but not too much,” he jokes. Just enough, he says, to begin conversing with friends. “I'm just trying to learn some Spanish because I have some (bilingual) friends and my girlfriend is Hispanic.”
In his time away from school, Robby finds many ways to fill his time. Surprisingly, watching television is not one of those ways. In fact, Robby does not watch television at home. His free time includes “reading or playing board games or watching movies (at the theater) or whatever.”
When it comes to movies, Robby usually sticks with the science fiction and action adventure he loves so much. His favorites? “Of course, since I like Harry Potter, the Harry Potter movies.” Another movie he saw recently was more on the scary side. “One that I really like that caught my attention was Dark Water.”
While Robby enjoys all sorts of foods, his favorite cuisine has to be Italian. “Barefoot Contessa is of course one of my favorite restaurants because I like to try different kinds of foods and that’s actually good food even though it can be a little filling,” he says. His favorite dish there has to be the baked ziti, he explains. “The baked ziti that they make with the meat sauce they use on the spaghetti and a little bit of parmesan and oregano. That’s really good.”
Robby giggles thinking of all of the foods he has tried over the years. “The weirdest thing I've ever eaten would be octopus. It was OK. It was kind of peculiar, but it was OK,” he says. “That and caviar - the fish eggs.” Robby says that at the time he was not aware that the reddish hors d’oeuvre he was eating was anything unusual. “That I didn't know until after. But I didn’t really like it very much.”
Robby would like to find an adoptive family that can offer him encouragement, loving support and, he says, participate with him in his many hobbies. He says he would enjoy having a family that could help him with science projects and take him on outings into the community. His ideal family will have two parents and possibly older siblings in the home. Robby would also consider being an only child.
Regardless of the shape or size of his adoptive family, Robby knows that he wants a home with people who can give him the love and attention he needs and deserves. He hopes that they, like his current foster family, will be good communicators, provide structure and consistency and will be eager to help him learn.
For more information about Robbie or to learn about foster care and adoption opportunities, please call AASK at (602) 254-2275.
