Meet Angie Rytting: an aspiring fashion designer, a runway coach, a studio violinist, a lacrosse player, a jump-rope star, and a transracial adoptee. Angie’s got a pretty long resume for being just 23-years-old. She is a high achiever, an optimist, and a dreamer. If anyone in this world is going to achieve her dreams from hard work, it will be Angie.
Angie was adopted as an infant, as were her seven siblings. Growing up in Utah, Angie and some of her siblings were the only black people many of their friends knew. But the only effect skin color had on Angie was that it made her “cool.” Already a friend-magnet, Angie’s differences just drew more people to her. Popular and successful in school, Angie’s mind was filled with dreams and hobbies. Because she was brought up in a family who instilled in each child knowledge of their divine worth, she never thought she was reaching too high or hoping without substance. Angie has always expected to achieve her dreams. And she has.
Angie’s family is predominantly black, with white parents and two white siblings. But with parents who love each child for who they are and who taught their children to embrace their talents and their ambitions, looks never played a role in the Rytting household. The entire family is blind to color; they simply don’t see it. A family member is a family member. Period.
Now an adult and living on her own, Angie recognizes that her mom and dad were “spot on” in parenting. Her parents were unable to have biological children, but Angie says, “It’s fair to say my parents went a little crazy with the numbers.” But good parents should have as many children as they desire, and Mr. and Mrs. Rytting are clearly good parents! Raising children to have half the sense of self-worth that Angie has, would be quite a task. And the Ryttings did it with each of their eight children. Seeing Angie as an adult is evidence that transracial adoption works.
After two years of excelling in a college environment, Angie changed courses and took bold steps to follow her dream. She is artistic in every sense of the word and truly could be successful in any endeavor. But her dream is design. Men’s fashion design. And so Angie has hit L.A. like a tornado hits Kansas. Unapologetically and without any reserve, Angie approaches investors and high-name executives in the industry with her designs. With hundreds of inquiries daily, it is rare for these busy entrepreneurs to even take a second look at any no-name hopeful. But not Angie. She has captured the attention of people who are considered unreachable, and is now on the road to fashion design success. And with that, she is now the one being approached.
When it comes to adoption–transracial adoption, infant adoption, domestic adoption–Angie is a supporter. “I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I had not been adopted. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if Heavenly Father hadn’t placed me in my family. I am so blessed and am grateful for the decision my birth mother made. I believe all things happen for a reason.”
