Camp Dream Street, the Happiest Place on Earth Part 2: Upper Staff

Being on upper staff was always one of those things that I thought vaguely about doing in the future if I became an art therapist, but it somehow never crossed my mind as something I should try to do while I was still in college. Enter Sarah, the same friend who encouraged me to apply for GE. She texted me one day out of the blue and informed me that she was applying for upper staff, that the applications were due in about a week, and that I should definitely apply too. I was torn; I knew I loved Dream Street dearly, but I had some reservations about applying, mainly that I was worried about being rejected. Finally, after much hemming and hawing, I thought, “Why not? What do I have to lose?” and got to work on the application. As it turned out, I did the application twice, because I accidentally deleted my entire first attempt. Three hours later, I FINALLY finished the application for the second time. I wasn’t really expecting to get in because it was my first time applying, but I thought I might get constructive criticism for next year or something. So, once I sent in the application, I put it out of my mind.

Around the time I was expecting to hear whether or not I got accepted, I started having computer issues as well as mountains of homework, so, upper staff was once again the furthest thing from my mind. However, on February 16^th, I decided to check my email when I was in the library, because I knew that the internet was down in my room. I scrolled through and didn’t really see anything interesting at first, until I noticed a subject line that said “Congratulations!” Then, I noticed the email address said @dreamstreetms.org. At first, I just stared open-mouthed at it, not fully believing what I was seeing. Finally, it clicked… I realized that I had, in fact been chosen to be on upper staff. Normally, receiving news like that would result in me exclaiming, or jumping up and down, or something else equally goofy, but because I was in the library, I had to limit myself to a whispered “OhmyGod, ohmyGod, OHMYGOD!” I got quite a few funny looks, but I didn’t care! I WAS GOING BACK TO DREAM STREET! I made so many phone calls that day to tell my family and friends. I was absolutely on top of the world!!! I remember thinking that I didn’t care what went wrong that day; none of it mattered because I chosen to go back to camp.

In the weeks that followed, I had activities to prepare and a costume to make, as well as papers, tests, minor health issues, doctor visits, and finally, finals. It got a little hectic (okay…very hectic…), but totally worth it!  Knowing I was finally going back to Dream Street made it all worthwhile. After a great deal of preparation and collaboration with my mom and my aunt (who made my costume and helped me prepare my face-painting activity) it was finally time to go back to camp. The night before camp, I got about four hours of sleep because I was so nervous and excited. I couldn’t wait to see everyone again and do arts and crafts with the campers, but at the same time I was terrified. I wanted so badly to make a good impression as well as hold my own with much more experienced upper staff, so that I could be invited back next year. SPOILER ALERT: It turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Being on upper staff was one of the most wonderful and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. It was stressful and exhausting at times, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world.

The first two days were devoted to orientation, and I found them both educational and wildly intimidating (THIS WAS NOT, I REPEAT NOT, the fault of the other staff. I just tend to be a pretty nervous person/perfectionist in general). It was at orientation that I became fully aware of what was expected of me (well…duh. That’s the point of orientation). Not only do the upper staff have specific activities we are responsible for, we are also who the counselors come to with questions and concerns of any kind. Being a newcomer, and a generally nervous person, I began to worry that I wasn’t cut out for this responsibility. I was afraid that I was going to make some egregious error and be told to go home and/or never get invited back. Apparently, I have quite the wild imagination, because this is NOT how things went. I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t make mistakes, but I will say that things ran quite smoothly, and that the art room seemed to be a pretty popular place during the week .There were a few challenges to overcome, like homesickness on the first day of official camp, exhaustion from lack of sleep and unusually strong side effects from my medication (severe drowsiness and moderate dehydration), art room cleanup until 2 a.m., occasional, unexpected bouts of shyness when it was time to explain activities, scooter problems, and stomachaches, but these were NOTHING compared to the good times at camp. I had a fantastic time, learned so much, and made soooooo many friends.

I learned so much from the upper and professional staff! Miracle, having been on upper staff before, was so patient with me even though I probably asked her a billion questions about how to be a good member of the upper staff. Natalie, like Miracle, was patient with me even though I pestered her with questions every single day. No matter how busy she was, she took the time to make sure any of my questions and/or concerns were taken care of. Steve kept me laughing the whole week, even when I was stressed out. Jocelyn was always there for me because we were in the same cabin. She gave me advice, helped me with things I struggle with, like putting my sheets on my bed, as well as navigating around the camp.  I am particularly grateful that she (and various others) helped me navigate around the camp. I seem to have a mental block against the layout of the camp; I couldn’t find the art room without assistance until the second to last day!  Jonathon inspired me with his positive attitude. His positivity seemed to make him particularly popular with the campers.  The professional staff showed me how to be friendly, helpful, and entertaining no matter how busy and stressed I may be. Last, but definitely not least, Kim and Mike did an incredible job as director and assistant director! They gave me tons of advice, support, and encouragement that helped me get through the week. They were very understanding when exhaustion set in midway through camp and let me leave some of our late-night staff meetings early. They were kind, flexible, and always made me feel comfortable asking for help. They taught me that, while independence is great, there will be times that I need to ask for help and that’s really okay. I absolutely despise asking for help, but their kindness made it much easier for me to ask. I am so grateful that they chose me to be a part of the Dream Street upper staff. It was such a blessing!

I had two activities that I and whoever else happened to be working with me on a given day would teach the campers. One was a Buzz Lightyear inspired telescope, and the other was a Hamm the Pig mask. The kids really seemed to enjoy the activities, but I think I had almost, if not as much, fun as  they did. After giving instructions, I got to circulate around the room, chat with campers and counselors, and offer to help if needed. These campers are some of the sweetest, funniest, and most inspiring people I’ve ever met. Each child taught me so much. I won’t mention them by name in here, but there were a few kids who I will forever be grateful for the lessons they taught me. I may have taught them how to do a few art activities, but they taught me so much more. There was a little girl who never said much, but giggled and smiled constantly. She also explored every inch of the art room, preferring to roam or look around rather than make telescopes. She reminded me to have a positive attitude no matter how stressed I may be, and to never stop exploring and learning. There are always new things to see and learn and experience. I met several future comedians who always kept me entertained. I met a young woman with fantastic artistic ability and conversational skills. I’ve seen this particular camper at Dream Street before, but never sat down and got to know her. Spending time with her in the art room made me wish I had gotten to know her sooner. She was very intelligent and confident, and seemed older than her age. One boy did something very unexpected and cool; he changed my Hamm the Pig mask into a T-rex mask. I thought it was great that he did something so different and creative. He took my project and made it into something better.  Working with these kids was such a blessing! I loved every minute of it. Being with these kids, teaching them, and learning from them has convinced me that art therapy is my true calling!

I’ve known since I was little that I was interested in art therapy, but there were always those nagging doubts that maybe I should pick a safer career, something more well-known and with a higher salary. Working at camp finally destroyed my doubts! I now know without a doubt, God is calling me to be an art therapist. Art therapy is truly my passion, and it’s because of Dream Street that I was able to fully realize this. I’ve always loved kids, always loved art, known I want to work with children who have disabilities and I known I wanted to make a difference with the career I choose.  My favorite aspects of working at Dream Street were seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces,  talking and interacting with them on an individual basis whenever possible, and seeing what kind of creative and unique spins they would put on the projects I taught them. Doing things like this on a daily basis would be the best job ever! I don’t think it would even feel like work. Thank you to everyone at Dream Street for making this the most rewarding and wonderful week I’ve ever experienced. God bless! 

Camp Dream Street, the Happiest Place on Earth Part One: The GE Years

                I’m just going to be completely honest; I’ve been procrastinating about writing this blog post for a few weeks now. It’s not that I don’t want to write about Camp Dream Street. It’s that writing about a place where I’ve grown, changed, and learned so much kind of intimidates me. Okay…REALLY intimidates me. I have so much to say, but it’s all so hard to put into words. I guess I’ll just dive in and try to express how much I truly love Camp Dream Street, and how much influence it has had on my goals, my independence, and many other facets of my life.

                I am relatively new to Dream Street. I’ve heard people say they’ve been at Dream Street 5, 10, even 20 years, but I’ve been to Dream Street a mere three times. I heard about Dream Street when a very close friend of mine, Sarah (she first attended in ’08) told me how much she loved it, how I needed to go, etc. I was pretty reluctant at first, mainly because I had never stayed away from home for any length of time, and I really didn’t think I was independent enough (and I was kind of a chicken lol). Finally she convinced me to apply in ‘09. I was too old to be a camper, but I was old enough to be a Great Expectations participant. I went ahead and applied, anxiously waiting to find out if I got accepted. Finally, I got the news that I was accepted to GE! Despite my initial reservations and jitters on the day we drove to camp, I was totally excited to go to Dream Street!

                My first day started off a little rough. I barely said a word to anyone because I was so overwhelmed and shy. Luckily, I was befriended by a very outgoing girl at the camp. By the end of the first day, we were totally inseparable! She taught me a lot about speaking my mind and standing up for myself. Even though we grew apart after our second year of Great Expectations, we reconnected a few years later when I found out she was in the hospital. Tragically, she lost her battle with blockage in her colon soon after we reconnected. Because of her, I’ve learned that I should be confident and should never be afraid to be myself. My true friends will love me for who I am. I don’t think I would be where I am today if I hadn’t met her. She was an amazing young woman, and it broke my heart to lose her so soon after she reconnected. Nonetheless, I was blessed to know her and she changed my life for the better.

Before GE, I was painfully shy. I’m still a pretty quiet person, just less so now, and I don’t have as much anxiety in social situations anymore. I don’t think I spoke very much my first year, even if it was just in front of the other GE participants, and by my second year I was singing in front of the whole camp! GE made me realize that what I have to say is important, and I should never be afraid to speak up. It gave me the courage to speak in front of my whole school my junior year about why I’m pro-life, have a discussion with several sophomore and junior religion classes about what it’s like to live with spina bifida, and then enter a speech competition, speaking about respecting people with disabilities. It also gave me the courage to speak up in the campus newspaper about the problems with disability access at my college. Before GE, the idea of merely answering a question in class or having to lead prayer for my whole class was enough to make me want to pretend to be sick so I could get out of it. GE helped me find my voice and my confidence!

GE also helped me become much more independent. My first year, I was constantly forgetting to bring essential things with me; a bathing suit on days we were supposed to swim; various toiletries for "shower party" (for those unfamiliar with dream street, that's just the name for shower time. Many campers need assistance transferring into and out of the shower. To keep it as fun as possible during shower time, they play music and listen to radio broadcasts about what happened at camp.), etc. The upper staff in my cabin were constantly finding and bringing me things that I couldn’t find or forgot. By my second year, I was pretty independent when it came to getting myself up, dressed, and packed for the day, etc. The independence I gained at Dream Street gave me the confidence to look at colleges other than just local colleges. I looked at College of Charleston and Millsaps, but I fell in love with Spring Hill College. It is a small Catholic college that is absolutely perfect for me! I couldn’t be happier at Spring Hill! I will forever be grateful to Camp Dream Street for giving me the courage to go outside of my comfort zone and explore out-of-state colleges. I’ve met people that I know will be my friends for life, and I’ve taken classes that have inspired me and made me a better person. Going to Spring Hill was one of the best decisions I ever made, and a decision I never would have had the courage to make without Dream Street.

I also got to do so many new things in GE, things I never thought I would be able to do. I walked on a balance beam (it was just a few inches off the ground, and I had two people holding on to me, but it still counts, as far as I’m concerned), I played wheelchair basketball for the first time and fell totally in love with it (which led to the basketball coach at my high school to teach me more about basketball, and the volleyball coach to teach me how to play volleyball in a wheelchair), and got to drive a car. I don’t have my permit yet, but I’m working on it now. Being a part of GE broadened my horizons and showed me that having a disability doesn’t have to hold me back! I never thought I would play sports, and I wasn’t sure when or if I would be able to drive. Now I know that with hard work, a will to succeed, and just a pinch of Dream Street magic, I can do anything I set my mind to!

Something else that was a new and valuable experience was helping upper staff member lead an art activity. Because I want to be an art therapist and work with children who have disabilities, I’m so glad I had this opportunity to practice doing arts and crafts with kids. This experience encouraged me when I wasn’t sure if art therapy was the best career for me, but it didn’t convince me entirely. The experience that made me absolutely, 100%, completely, entirely sure that art therapy is my true calling occurred this past summer…To Be Continued!

If the world was more like Camp Dream Street

NOTE: For those of you that aren’t familiar with Dream Street, it is a camp in Mississippi for children and teens with disabilities. IT’S AMAZING!!

Living with a disability can be tough, especially for young people with disabilities. However, every summer, there is an amazing place where kids with disabilities can forget the problems and challenges. Unfortunately, Dream Street only lasts a few days and the kids are sent back into the real world, which often presents serious challenges like bullying, ignorance about disabilities, and a lack of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If the world was more like Dream Street, life would be a lot simpler for people with disabilities, and a better place for everyone. If the world was more like Dream Street, every building would have ramps, elevators and wheelchair accessible doors. At Dream Street, it is so easy to get around! If the world was more like Dream Street, every person would feel loved and accepted, regardless of disability, gender, religion, race, or sexuality. If the world was more like Dream Street, all people would be taught from a young age that no matter what, every person is deserving of respect, dignity and love. If the world was more like Dream Street, violence and crime would be much less of a problem, because people would learn from an early age how to get along with and respect others. If the world was more like Dream Street, all people would be encouraged to reach their full potential no matter what challenges seem to stand in their way. Giving up would not be an option. If the world was more like Dream Street, no one would ever have to feel alone. There would always be someone they could lean on during hard times. If the world was more like Dream Street, people would start their day bright and early with silly songs and stretching, providing them with energy and a positive attitude. If the world was more like Dream Street, people would learn that being goofy doesn’t have to be embarrassing; it’s actually pretty fun. If the world was more like Dream Street, people would be less self-conscious and would have the courage to be themselves. If the world was more like Dream Street, the world would be a better place.

Random Acts of Kindness

     The past few weeks, particularly the past few days, have reminded me just how blessed I am. The reminders all had one thing in common: each reminder came in the form of a random act of kindness. Each one was totally unexpected, and caught me off-guard, but in a good way. A girl in my English class stayed after class and helped me with my schoolbag and crutches on several different days. At a "haunted hayride," I was feeling very unsteady sitting on the bales of hay, and the guy I was sitting next put his arms around me and, whether he realized it or not, wound up helping me keep my balance during the entire ride. At the same event, several of my friends stayed with me and pushed my wheelchair through the mud and grass (which, believe me, is NOT an easy task). A guy in my psych class told me that I looked beautiful, on a day when frankly, I wasn't feeling particularly beautiful at all. A girl in my dorm left a very long, and very kind message on my facebook wall completely out of the blue. Today, a guy in my western civ class, whom I've talked to maybe once or twice, helped me maneuver my scooter when I was struggling with it, walked me back to my dorm, and offered to continue helping me regularly. I am sure there are a hundred other examples of random acts of kindness that I could cite, but these are just a few of the ones that jump out at me.
   Readers, if you ever feel discouraged or feel that you can't make a difference, I challenge you to change your outlook. We all have the power to make the world a better place, and what better way to start than by making the world a better place for our classmates, co-workers, friends, family, and people that we meet throughout the day? A simple "hi," a smile,  or just holding a door open can make a huge difference in someone's day. I speak from experience when I tell you that simple, random acts of kindness can work wonders! God bless.

Equality

 A while back, I wrote an anti-bullying blog post that referred to homosexual teens who committed suicide after being bullied. At the time, I purposely did not mention my opinion of homosexuality. I was afraid of any backlash that might result. Today, I am not afraid. I fully support gay rights, especially the right to marry. The fact that they are denied this right sickens me, and has since I was young. The fact that homophobia is alive and well in our society sickens me even more. Even when I was a little girl, I was infuriated when I heard people call homosexuals sinners, or use homophobic slurs. It still does make me angry. Luckily, I've learned to channel that anger into something more useful ; action. As a social justice advocate, I will fight for the rights of anyone who is marginalized, including the LGBTQ community (example: today was a day for people to wear purple to speak out against homophobia. I wore a purple shirt, purple bracelets, purple eyeshadow and a fedora with a purple band on it.)

     Now, I've heard all the arguments for why homosexuality is supposedly a sin. I just don't buy into these arguments. Never have, never will. Period. End of story. I was raised to treat all people with respect and dignity, including homosexuals.

I'm not the only Catholic who disagrees with arguments against homosexuality. DignityUSA is a Catholic-based pro-gay organization which "celebrates the wholeness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Catholics." (http://www.dignityusa.org/purpose)  Wholeness. Isn't that a beautiful word? Every single person has value,worth,  and deserves to know that they are whole and good; no matter whom they love. In a society that judges homosexuals as sinners,as unnatural, perverted, and less valuable than heterosexuals, I think it's lovely to see a faith-based group acknowledge the wholeness and value of all people, including the LGBTQ community. If only society could see what DignityUSA, and what I, see.

     A common misconception is that people choose to be gay. It's interesting to me that homosexuality is written off as a choice. If heterosexuals find homosexual relationships unnatural, it's entirely possible, and likely, that homosexuals find the idea of having a heterosexual relationship just as unnatural. I believe that people should never be judged for whom they fall in love with and certainly not be prevented from getting married. I truly think it's unfair that homosexuals are not allowed to marry whom they wish to marry.

   No matter how you feel about gay marriage, I hope we can at least agree that judging and mistreating homosexuals is wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. We are called to love others, and respect them. How can we really do that if we're too busy judging them for their sexuality? In John 8:7, Jesus says, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone." Not one of us is perfect, and we cannot judge one another. That is God's job.

Readers, I challenge you to treat all people equally, no matter their sexuality. If you do not support gay rights, I respect that. However, I would merely ask that you do some research, pray about it, and see if your perspective doesn't change even a little bit. If you support gay rights already, that's cool too. Fellow gay rights supporters, I challenge you to participate in "wear purple to end homophobia" days, as well as other events to raise awareness about gay rights and homophobia. To all of my readers, God bless!

Learning to Lean

     "Lean on me when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on." These words of wisdom from Bill Withers are an important reminder that we should never isolate ourselves from others.  While independence is very important, we must remember that everyone needs help sometimes. I will be the first to admit that I've always hated asking for help. As I've gotten older, I've realized that this attitude really doesn't serve me well at all. The reality is that people need help to get through life. My friends, my family, and my Father support me during hard times and help me celebrate the good times. They are the ones I lean on when I need help.

    By the same token, social justice is called "social" for a reason. We cannot change the world by working alone. We must work together with other activists to see results. We must find people we can lean on when things get frustrating. As activists, there will be times when it seems like nothing is getting done. If we befriend other activists, we will have the support we need to keep fighting for social justice. This is not a fight we can win alone. Learn to lean. It will make your life and the fight for social justice that much easier.

Readers, as activists, I challenge you to find another activist who feels passionate about whatever social justice cause is closest to your heart. Then, find a way to raise awareness about your particular cause. I further challenge you to reach out to a friend or a family member in need of support. I can tell you from experience that this will make them feel loved and will give them hope. If you are in a situation that you need help getting through, just ask. Don't EVER be afraid to ask for help. Your friends, your family, and and your faith can help you through even the toughest situations. Seek professional help if necessary. You are never alone. God bless.

Disabilities 101, A speech I wrote and presented at District Rally. Enjoy!

Good morning and welcome to Disabilities 101! Disabilities 101 will teach you important things to remember when interacting with people who have disabilities. Let's get started. Imagine you are in the mall at your favorite store, and you see a teenage girl in a wheelchair. What do you notice about her first? Is it her smile? Her independence? The bright colors, stickers, or rhinestones that make her wheelchair unique? Or do you notice her thin legs, her paralyzed feet, and other qualities that make her "different" first? If you notice the negative things first, there is no need to feel guilty. This reaction is very common, but it certainly isn't ideal. People often focus on the negative aspects of a disability out of intimidation, lack of knowledge, or insensitivity. Here are some things to think about when interacting with people who have disabilities.
Lesson One: I Am NOT Disabled. How can I make such a bold claim when I clearly walked into this room with crutches supporting me and leg braces keeping my legs straight? It's actually very simple. I am not disabled; I have a disability. There is a distinct difference between these statements. Calling someone disabled makes them sound as if they are broken down, decrepit, and useless. It says that all that matters about them is that they are disabled. Nothing else about them is important; not their talents, not their personality, nothing. On the other hand, saying that someone "has a disability" acknowledges their humanity first, and their disability second. It says that we can see past a person's disability and see whatever makes that person unique. There is so much more to me than just a pair of crutches and leg braces. I'm a Catholic, I'm an artist, I'm a musician, I'm a writer, I'm a student, I'm a social justice advocate, I'm a daughter, a grand-daughter, a cousin, a sister, a friend and most importantly, I'm a person. I'm a person with a disability, who also has many strengths, talents, and abilities. If people spent five minutes looking past my disability and getting to know me, they would know that.
Lesson Two: A disability is not a death sentence. It is very common for people to believe that having a good life with a disability is impossible. My mother's doctor even told her to consider aborting me! He predicted I would never walk or talk and would be a "vegetable." Luckily, she refused to abort me, but unfortunately, more than 80% of babies with disabilities or deformities are aborted. This makes me sick. It is absolutely insane to believe that people with disabilities cannot live a full life. When I was a little girl, I dressed up like a princess for Halloween, rode "It's a Small World" at Disney world a thousand times, collected Barbies, and made up silly songs and sang at the top of my lungs. When I was tired of being girly, I behaved like a typical tomboy. I played alongside my guy friends at the playground or in my backyard, and I practically lived in my swimming pool during the summer. Contrary to what my doctor believed, my disability never held me back. I was fearless, like any child should be.
As I grew up, I discovered that there was more to life than playgrounds and make-believe. I discovered a love of art, psychology, music, writing and social justice, all of which will allow me to become a successful art therapist one day. I have always been in mainstream schools, and I have always performed at or above the level of my peers. High school has been amazing. I met several girls with disabilities, who have become my closest friends and some of my role models. I was on the Homecoming Court in eighth grade. I had the second highest GPA freshman year and I survived brain surgery. I had three pieces of artwork displayed in my school's art show sophomore year, I discovered the career that was right for me, and I was able to help a student from Cuba who spoke little English. The summer before junior year, I attended my first sleep-away camp, where I played wheelchair sports, rode a zip line, and walked on a balance beam for the first time. I also attended a leadership conference in Washington D.C, where I discovered my passion for social justice. Junior year, I addressed the entire student body at a Pro-life assembly, refined my athletic abilities and began formulating plans for a social justice blog. This year, my plans for a social justice blog have become a reality. I also have learned how to stand for several minutes without my crutches.
See? My disability doesn't hold me back much at all, does it? People make such a big deal out of it, and most of the time, it really isn't that serious. Sure, I have to deal with challenges, but so does everyone else, with or without a disability. All in all, I have been able to achieve plenty despite my disability. Many other people have, too! Think of Helen Keller. She was blind and deaf, but became a famous speaker and writer. And then there's former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He had polio, yet he ran the country! Recently, a new role model for people with disabilities has emerged. Her name is Christina "C-bunny" Sarni. She is an incredibly gifted dancer! She also has a hearing impairment. C-bunny once said, " I might not hear all the beats, and all the words, and all the sounds in the music, but I hear it through my heart." Disabilities never have to hold people back, and C-bunny is living proof of that. I hope that I can inspire people as much as she has.
Let's move on to Lesson Three: It's Time for a Reality Check. Now that we have discussed the positive aspects of living with a disability, I think it's time to discuss some of the negatives that I hinted at earlier. My life is wonderful, but just like anyone else, my life isn't perfect. There will always be challenges that I will have to face. I was bullied a lot in grammar school and especially middle school. People would call me mean names, physically abuse me, and steal from me. As much I hated it back then, in a very small way, I'm grateful for it now.
You see, being bullied forced me to come to the realization that I could either spend my whole life worrying what people thought of me, and trying to change in order to please them, or I could stop caring what other people thought. I chose the latter. I will never change who I am, or go against my morals, just to please another person. Above all, being bullied gave me the courage to stand up for myself, as well as anyone else being bullied. If I find out that anyone I know is being bullied, I will find a way to help them.
Another negative aspect of my disability is the health problems associated with it. I was born with a condition called hydrocephalus, which is just a fancy way of saying that I was born with fluid build-up around my brain. This condition is managed by a device called a shunt, which drains away the fluid. Sometimes, shunts break. I've had brain surgery four different times to fix my shunt, most recently freshman year, but you know what? I'm okay with that. It was scary and all, but it really didn't slow me down too much.
Hip dislocation is also a problem for me. When I was a baby, my hips never developed properly, so they would easily dislocate. Because I have limited sensation in my legs, it really didn't hurt at all when I was younger. I got used to the idea that if I sat or stood certain ways, I would hear a quiet popping sound and feel my hip move. No big deal. It was just a fact of life and it didn't bother me at all. As I got older, hip dislocations started to hurt. A lot. It can be annoying to deal with, but the worst part of it is not the dislocation itself. I can handle physical pain. The worst part of hip dislocation is being confined to a wheelchair when I'm in too much pain to walk. I've never really had the patience for wheelchairs, and I admire the people who use them every day without complaining. Despite these challenges, I love my life exactly as it is, brain surgeries and all. People with disabilities will always have to face challenges, but we are strong enough to overcome them!
It's time for Lesson Four, arguably one of the most important lessons I will teach you today. NO ONE can or should limit what I am capable of, or what other people with disabilities are capable of. Those who try to limit us are going to fail miserably. We're still going to keep working hard and succeeding. Personally, I don't care how many times someone tells me "You can't do this," "You will never do that, " or "You aren't strong enough to do this." I can do whatever I set my mind to, and believe me, I will. Watch me. I am stronger and more stubborn then people realize.
To conclude Disability 101 today, lets review the lessons we learned. Lesson One: I am NOT disabled. I have a disability. I am not broken down or decrepit; I am happy and strong despite my challenges. Lesson Two: A disability is not a death sentence. My life is fun, and I enjoy every minute of it. Lesson Three: Reality Check. I have faced many challenges, and I am perfectly aware that there will be more to come. I am okay with that. I know that I can do anything with love and support from God, my family, my friends, and my teachers. Lesson Four: No one can or should limit what I am capable of. I defy anyone who tries to bully me, limit me, or otherwise upset me. It's a waste of their time and mine. They will fail. Thank you very much for giving me your time. God bless.