Empathetic Antonio is a poet, an athlete, an artist and an honors student
“Antonio is an awesome, awesome, kid!” his worker exclaims. “I don’t know where to start…I feel like I could talk about him all day.”
Sixteen-year-old Antonio is enrolled in Advanced Placement classes and “passing them with flying colors,” says his worker.
“He is also a multi-talented athlete,” his worker continues, “a phenomenal football player who likes longboarding, basketball and lifting weights, too. He is also a ‘foodie’ and, although he can be a picky eater, he loves cooking.”
A ‘normal teen who enjoys playing video games (but who cheerfully stops when asked), his worker says Antonio is exceptionally giving in every sense of the word.
“He likes to draw and once, when I’d had a long day, he gave me a drawing he did of an elephant (my favorite animal) and a panda bear (his favorite) to cheer me up. And it worked!”
“Antonio has a very little sister that he ‘Zooms’ with,” his worker says. “During their time together, they color. And then he sends the picture to her.
“He shows that he values the people he cares about more than anything else. Once, he had to decide between going to a high school homecoming football game or having a family visit — and he selflessly chose the visit.”
“He always makes a point to stop and engage with people,” his worker adds, “and that’s very rare for a teen. He is a good conversationalist and listener and remembers details about people, an endearing trait. He loves to learn. When you talk with him, you know he is listening.”
In his M.A.R.E. (mare. org) video, Antonio reads some of his poetry. “My poetry is about things that happen in the world,” he says. “… about things I can’t change and things I can…Things I can’t express, I just put into a poem…I have a way with words, and I don’t know where it comes from…”
Antonio is hoping to be placed with a forever family very soon.
“He would need a family that is patient and will listen and talk to him and be willing to have philosophical discussions,” his worker says, “and they would need to be very active and willing to provide opportunities for him to participate in sports and explore his outdoor interests.”
“The word ‘family,’ to me,” Antonio says, “means caring, loving, respect, bonded and nourishment. Nourishment for my body and soul, teaching me what is right and wrong, and being comforted…”