Get out there and live your wild and wonderful life.
Welcome to the Orphan Girl Site!
I’m Merika Goolsby, born Marika Benson. If life had taken a different turn, I might have carried the name Marika Wilson, but I was adopted, renamed Marika Reagan, and have since fell in love and got married and am now Merika Goolsby. This site embodies my mission to inspire, educate, and prevent—three goals that guide my storytelling.
Here, I aim to uplift others with lived experiences in foster care and adoption, encouraging them to share their own stories. My hope is to shed light on foster care and adoption for those who may not fully understand these journeys and to work towards preventing future generations from enduring the hardships I faced and that many others have lived through.
As I navigated adulthood, I often found limited spaces to discuss and seek support for the complexities of my early life. The few available options often came with long waiting lists or didn’t align with my experiences. This platform is a haven for those of us who have walked the winding paths of foster care and adoption, a space where we can explore the impact of these experiences on our identities and lives.
Throughout my journey, I’ve been encouraged to share my story. People often remind me, "There is power in your story," and that "Your story can bring healing." It has taken time and the strength I've gained from listening to others to feel ready to share my own. If my narrative resonates with even one person, it will have been worth the journey.
I’m continually learning how to weave together the threads of my story—full of highs and lows, joy and sorrow, turmoil and tranquility. I take pride in being a survivor. While some may meticulously research or gather documentation before sharing their experiences, I choose to tell mine as I remember it—authentic and true to my lived experience, reflecting the memories that have shaped me into who I am today.
So, join me as I share my journey. Here goes…
I’m Merika Goolsby, born Marika Benson. If life had taken a different turn, I might have carried the name Marika Wilson, but I was adopted, renamed Marika Reagan, and have since fell in love and got married and am now Merika Goolsby. This site embodies my mission to inspire, educate, and prevent—three goals that guide my storytelling.
Here, I aim to uplift others with lived experiences in foster care and adoption, encouraging them to share their own stories. My hope is to shed light on foster care and adoption for those who may not fully understand these journeys and to work towards preventing future generations from enduring the hardships I faced and that many others have lived through.
As I navigated adulthood, I often found limited spaces to discuss and seek support for the complexities of my early life. The few available options often came with long waiting lists or didn’t align with my experiences. This platform is a haven for those of us who have walked the winding paths of foster care and adoption, a space where we can explore the impact of these experiences on our identities and lives.
Throughout my journey, I’ve been encouraged to share my story. People often remind me, "There is power in your story," and that "Your story can bring healing." It has taken time and the strength I've gained from listening to others to feel ready to share my own. If my narrative resonates with even one person, it will have been worth the journey.
I’m continually learning how to weave together the threads of my story—full of highs and lows, joy and sorrow, turmoil and tranquility. I take pride in being a survivor. While some may meticulously research or gather documentation before sharing their experiences, I choose to tell mine as I remember it—authentic and true to my lived experience, reflecting the memories that have shaped me into who I am today.
So, join me as I share my journey. Here goes…
