She always wondered why she looked slightly different than others in her family.  Why she was a little darker. Why she had different facial features.

When Laurin Ortega was 2 years old her biological father was shot and killed. She spent most of her life with Ray Ortega who took the responsibility of fathering her.

When her mother told her about her biological father she was about 9 years old. Not quite able to grasp the situation yet she sat holding the funeral program and thinking.

“When I found out I felt confused,” she said. “You have a whole other family (biological father’s family) that you think may not accept you.”

However, she explains that she did not exactly feel sad because she really never knew different.

“My mom and ‘dad’ always knew each other and my ‘dad’ said no matter what, this is my kid,” she explained. “When I was a newborn, (Ortega) was on my birth certificate. I never knew any other.”

Although growing up has been different for Ortega she has always worked diligently in school and has never allowed her family situation to affect her work ethic. “I had a clear goal: I’m going to do well,” she said.

Support is also a strong component in Ortega’s life because she receives it from both her mother’s family and her Ortega family. They are always willing to help and they never exclude her, she says with tears in her eyes.

“I don’t feel like I’m the only black sheep of the family,” she said. “They don’t accept everyone but they accept me.”

Despite her diverse family and strong support system she is extremely appreciative and is fortunate to have her Ortega family, she said.

“No matter who I meet, or where I go, or what conversations I have, they are my real family.”