Blueprint for his Future
Calvin is developing an interest in architectural drawing. He first realized that he had a talent for it while taking a summer drawing class at Mercy Home in 2008.
The principle at Calvin's school also took notice. "He saw me doodling and he also looked at some of the other architectural pictures I drew," Calvin said. "Then he asked me if I would draw the school." He was commissioned to draw the school for its yearbook.
Although the high school freshman has only been drawing buildings for under a year, it has quickly become a consuming hobby. "My favorite building to draw is the Sears, well now Willis, Tower," Calvin said. "When I moved to Chicago in 2007, I saw the Sears Tower and thought it was cool." This past Christmas season, Calvin drew a picture of Mercy Home that was used on one of our Christmas cards to donors.
Calvin, like so many of our kids, went through a devastating experience at a young age. After living in foster care for the first few years of his life, he was adopted when he was 5 years old, by a woman who loved and nurtured him. Weeks after his twelfth birthday, she passed away unexpectedly at church, and Calvin found himself lost and alone. It wasn't long after her passing that Calvin started falling behind in school and acting out at home.
After coming to Mercy Home, he took advantage of the support and therapeutic programs we provide. With commitment to the program, Calvin has learned how to express his emotions in a healthier way. Through individual and group therapy, Calvin learned to grow in ways he never would.
"Therapy at Mercy Home has helped me," Calvin explained. "I really like the sessions." He also learned to use his new love of architectural drawing as an outlet.
Calvin enjoys a full range of pursuits outside of drawing. He is also active in his church, serving as an alter boy, and playing the piano. One day, the young man hopes to grow up to be an architectural artist, and he's working very hard now to make his future plans a concrete reality.