Child Profiles
DJ, born July 1996
He’s on the verge of cool, but still yearning for a family. Meet Dawayne.
Dawayne is at that interesting age for boys, almost 13 and developing into a man. He’s beginning to get a sense of himself and is discovering girls. Yes, he has a girlfriend. All he’ll say about that is her name is Chelsea and she is very nice. For all his outward confidence, it’s hard not to detect the sadness Dawayne (DJ is what he prefers to be called) carries inside.
DJ has been in foster care for a number of years. In a recent chat with 12 News Today Anchor Scott Light at the Tempe Pump It Up, he hinted that he lives for today, trying not to think about the past or what lies ahead in the future. “I have a sadness inside,” he quietly admitted when he let down his cool facade. Other than that brief moment, he kept up a cocky banter with Light about what he’s all about.
Like most boys his age, DJ is into music and rap rules what comes out of the speakers-50-Cent, The Game, and Nellie. He was amazed when Light asked about T-Pain. “Hey, how do you know about him?” he asked, astonished.
Still on the cusp of manhood, DJ is a dichotomy of a boy who likes to play and a boy who is noticing himself in the mirror. He still gets a kick hanging out with his buddies riding bicycles, doing tricks on roller blades and skate boards and playing some street basketball or football. He couldn’t get enough of the inflatable bouncers and slides at Pump It Up, urging Light or any kids he could find to race him, over and over. When Light hinted that DJ was too short to play center or forward in basketball, DJ joked, “You calling me a shrimp, can you believe this guy? He says I’m a shrimp.”
Video games still capture DJ’s attention. He is adept at Halo 3, Most Wanted, Extreme Home Court and Smackdown Wrestling.
The other side of DJ is a boy learning about grooming, style and presence. He’s in the
7 th-grade, an age where the mirror is starting to capture more and more of his time. Body spray, deodorant, and hair products are becoming key to his appearance. “I like style’n and looking good, fresh,” he said with a youthful air of confidence.
Asked to define what he’s all about, DJ says he’s a great best friend who is gentle, kind, helpful and goofy. It’s obvious he has a great sense of humor and likes to make others laugh. Instead of taking a vacation to some exotic beach, DJ said he’d rather take the money and help those less fortunate by giving clothing and food. As for the future, he’d rather not think about that right now. “I try to live my life the way it is now,” he reflected. “I don’t think ahead and think about all that stuff.”
DJ’s case worker says Dawayne needs a two parent family who will show him the love and trust he has been denied for many years. He seeks consistency and guidance as he transitions into manhood. He’s smart and likes adults. An active family who shares laughter and likes church would suit DJ as he moves from trying to be cool to a wonderful young man.
For more information on DJ or general information on adoption and foster care, please call AASK at (602)254-2275!
