LOWELL, Mich. -- As FOX 17 continues our Forever Home series we introduce you to Ascenda, 13, a radiant eighth grader hopeful to soon be adopted.
Standing alongside Oreo, a sweet-natured horse, Ascenda laid her head on him smiling and said, "he's soft." She says she loves horses but has not spent much time around them. So she took to learning all about horses Tuesday.
"Do you feel how kind he is?" asked Dr. Urminda Firlan, local psychologist and equine therapist, as she taught Ascenda about Oreo, then how to get him ready for a ride.
After some lessons and laughs Ascenda took off on her first horseback ride ever, quickly showing Dr. Firlan her natural riding skills.
“It felt like fresh air like going through my face, and my heart is like really beating because it’s a good connection of [Oreo] loving and caring," Ascenda said after riding.
Learning how to become a leader while riding a horse, Ascenda says she already leads at school.
“I would like to run for like student body president," she said.
When she grows up, Ascenda says she wants to become an attorney and choreograph dance, but she also aspires to give back.
“When I grow up I would like to be a foster mom to people in my situation, to help them out and give them a chance to show them who they really are," said Ascenda.
To grow into the mother she wants to become one day, Ascenda is hopeful to soon have adoptive parents of her own. She says having a family would be a blessing.
“God blessing me with a family is going to be really good and I can’t be picky," she said and smiled.
She's not picky, just asking for love and acceptance.
“A family I’m looking for is a family who give me a chance to show who I am, and they give me a chance to be who I want to be, like love me for me.”
Until then, she's all smiles riding into her bright future.
“I’m on this planet to change the world to a better place," said Ascenda.
If you're interested in adopting Ascenda, or would like to learn more about her and the process, call her adoption agency, Orchards Children's Services at: 1 (855) 694-7301.
FOX 17 would like to give an extra special thank you to Dr. Urminda Firlan for sharing her horses and time to teach Ascenda! If you are looking for counseling, equine therapy, or other psychological services, see Dr. Firlan's contact and website here.
