Overcoming Obstacles

my life at a glance

My Life Story:

I dedicate this story to everyone that helped me get this far in my life including Mr. Myers, Greg, Kari, all my friends, Chip, and every one of the amazing people from GCC because, without all of these people, I wouldn't have gotten where I am today and I also wouldn't be who I am today.

Intro:

Hello, my name is Phoenix. I was born on November 4th, 1994. this means I'm 25 years old. I am physically disabled and I was born like this. I have cerebral palsy, Williams syndrome, and scoliosis. I will explain what those are and what they mean later. for now, I would like to start by telling you a little more about myself. I am the second oldest of eight kids. my mother and father divorced in 2004. Currently, I live with my grandparents and some of my siblings.

I have had a lot of challenges and hurdles I have had to overcome. for example, the doctors I had when I was younger told my parents I would never walk, talk, or move like anyone my age; I was also told I would not live past 5 years old. I decided I would prove them wrong because I am able to walk and I'm doing things the doctors had no hope for me ever doing. I am driving and in college and starting to become a contributing member of society.

I never called myself crippled or handicapped, because I feel like everyone at some point has challenges in their lives, so I call myself physically challenged or I say I have a disease. some people have said that given my circumstances, they wouldn't fight as hard or even try to do half the things I've done in my life, but for me, I have had to fight to do most of what I want to do in my life.

Learning to live with limitations:

I was taught as a young kid that I could do anything I put my mind to. with this being said, I developed a desire at 9 years old to do ballet. my grandma told me it would most likely be difficult, however, she didn't say that to discourage me from doing this, she only told me to show me how it was going to be. I was in 2 recitals for ballet and have 2 trophies from this. I was also in the Special Olympics while in elementary, middle, and high school. I received several medals and it is a constant reminder that if I want to do something bad enough or accomplish something bad enough I can do it.

each summer growing up, starting when I was 9, I went to a special needs camp for kids with disabilities. I loved going here because it is the very first place I felt like I belong. it is a week-long sleepover camp, and there are so many different activities to do there just like a regular camp. I loved the adventure club because I'm a daredevil and I love going fast in my wheelchair and things like that.

i loved the zip line and rock wall because it helped build my confidence and self-esteem and I grew personally since the first summer I went I wasn't very talkative or outgoing, but by the second summer I was there, I knew more people and it was fun being at camp. At the end of the week every year I got a video/DVD of my experience along with getting a t-shirt, and there was a dance the night before we went home.

I don't think of my limitations as things I cant do, I think of them as things that are harder or difficult for me to do. I am realistic, however, and I do know that I may never be able to run or play sports like other people, but I focus on what I can do. I never told myself I was any different than anyone else because of being disabled because I can do most things that everyone else can do.

Meeting Mrs. Shelby and going to boces:

in 10th grade, I had a half day visit at the Batavia boces. I had to pick 3 classes to visit. I chose culinary arts, cosmetology, and health dimensions. when I went to culinary it was nice, but I realized I might not be able to physically handle the demands of this course. in cosmetology, it was much the same, because they were on their feet most of the time. however, even though this was the case in health dimensions, something about this class captured my attention and sparked an interest in doing this class. I loved the clinical rotations and going to hosa my last year of high school. my favorite part of boces was the fact that I only had to be at school half a day and the rest of the day I got to be with Mrs. Shelby.