“I knew that was coming,” says Colton when he was told his hair looked awesome. Colton and his mom have been living at Coburn Place for almost a year. He’s 7 and getting ready to start second grade.

Colton is his mom’s only child and has five siblings on his father’s side he “absolutely loves.” He likes to play basketball with the hoop on his bedroom door, and sometimes he has friends over to play with him. His mom says he’s a goofball who likes to dance. Colton’s favorite movies are Daddy Daycare and Milo and Otis.

“He enjoys swimming, skating, and all the indoor places such as Zip City and Urban Air,” his mom says. “He loves outdoor parks as well. And, of course, electronics.” Though he doesn’t have a gaming system or a phone, he enjoys recording videos of himself. It’s no surprise he’s great in front of a camera. “I can go on and on about him,” she says.

If you were to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

A superstar.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Gym. I like the exercises they give me.

What are you looking forward to most in second grade?

Getting two A honor rolls and an A/B honor roll again.

What is something you learned to do last year?

I learned how to count by 10s, find groups of 10s and count by five.

What is your favorite food?

Cooked asparagus and steak.

What is your favorite dessert?

Sweet stuff like ice cream and root beer – a root beer float.

What do you like to wear?

I like to wear black clothes. (Mom adds, “And no shirt.”)

What’s your favorite season?

My favorite season is summer because you get to go swimming and you don’t have to wear coats. And I don’t get colds like in the winter and fall.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

My favorite thing to do in the summer is play basketball and go swimming. I like to go to swimming lessons at camp.

What is the best thing that ever happened to you?

The best thing was when I went to King’s Island. I even went swimming! I was scared of the Red Racer. I was in the front. It felt like I was going to fly in the air and fall off.

What do you know how to do that you could teach other people?

Basketball and teaching them how to exercise.

What do you think your life will be like in the future?

I’m going to be a basketball star. I might drive a Mercedes or a BMW.

If you could be an animal, what would you be?

A jaguar. Or one of those buff dogs – what are they called? A pit bull.

What would you do with a million dollars?

I would split it equally with my brothers and sisters. I’d tell them to save it. I might buy a Mustang GT or a Cadillac.

If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?

I might go to a private island. I might buy a private island with my money. Or I might go to Mexico with my money.

What makes you feel happy?

The thing that makes me feel happy is when I get to visit somebody. If it’s a person I haven’t seen in a long time, I get happy.

If you had three wishes, what would they be?

My wishes would be if I could be a celebrity, if I could give people more lives, and if I could give money to people because they need it.

If you could meet a famous person, who would you want to meet?

I would like to meet Steph Curry or The Rock.

What would your best friend say you’re good at?

He would say I’m really good at climbing. He would say I’m really good at being a friend – because he already has said that. And he would say that I was strong.

What advice would you give to your mom if she was sad?

I would tell her to think about things that used to make her happy – like when I was a baby.

If you got to be the parent for the day, what would your rules be?

My three rules are going to be no interrupting people, no getting on electronics without asking me, and no disrespect.

What’s something you aren’t allowed to do you wish you were allowed to do?

I want to have my own private island, but I’m not old enough. But I am old enough to be famous.

What do you like about being a kid?

The thing I like about being a kid is that I get to experience a lot of good things.

What do you like the most about yourself?

I am strong, I’m brave, I’m confident, I’m smart, and I look nice.

What do you like about living at Coburn Place?

The silence. My bedroom has a LeBron bed, and I have a lot of car toys. I have a Lamborghini, but I still think the GT Mustang is the best.

What do you like about your mom?

My favorite thing about my mom is that she loves me, the way she looks, and the way she treats me.

Colton’s mom says Coburn Place has been great for her. “I haven’t been on my own,” she says. “This is my first time.”

For Colton, it’s been a positive move. “When we first moved in, he was failing his first semester,” she says. “Then he got on A/B honor roll second semester, and the last two semesters were straight As.”

His focus on school isn’t the only way he’s changing. “His style is starting to show,” she says. “He’s growing up. It’s a change every day – even the foods he’s eating now.” She credits The Rock – and herself – for his love of exercise and healthy eating.

Her hope for him is that he stays true to himself and does what makes him happy. “I want him to stay on the right track because it’s very easy to fall,” she says. “That’s why I left – because I didn’t want him going down the wrong path. But he’s just becoming himself – his own little person. I want nothing more than to give him everything he deserves and more by doing what I need to while being here at Coburn.”

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To support the back-to-school needs of Colton and the other kids Coburn Place serves, visit their Virtual Lemonade Stand at www.coburnplace.org/lemons.