Tag Archives: school

Cherish

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At the beginning of this year I was celebrating the clock striking midnight on New Year’s alongside my best friend, as per our tradition. Little did we know that we’d only get to see each other once more before the whole world would fling into chaos.

This time has marked a shift in the way we must go about our everyday lives and in my personal outlook on life itself. If this year thus far has taught me anything it’s that time is precious. There’s no telling what tomorrow may bring, so cherish life as you know it.

With each passing day in quarantine I began to treasure how I was living pre-pandemic. The simple things that I had not appreciated before, I missed. More than anything, I missed being able to freely see my friends. I think I’ve been going so stir crazy during this time not because I’ve been bored or I can no longer go out to public places, but because I’ve been unable to have a typical hang out. You never realize how mentally necessary it is for you to be around those that bring you the utmost joy, and that understand you best, until you’re no longer allowed to do so. 

It wasn’t until this month that I was finally able to see my best friend before she was to head back to college. This would be the first time in months that I’d be visiting with any of my friends. Although her school called for all students to “quarantine” before returning to campus, I was her only exception!

I wasn’t sure how I would feel opening my front door and seeing my best friend again after so long. I never thought the next time I would see her would be behind a medical mask. It felt surreal, but we were both incredibly happy to see one another and fell right back into our normal ways. The night was spent catching each other up on gossip and laughing at the top of our lungs. She was finally able to show me the presents she’s had for me for months both from last Christmas, just because of her forgetfulness, and the one meant for my birthday that was spent in quarantine.

The first gift is a moon lamp with a picture of us engraved into it, and the second is a James Avery “Two Peas In A Pod” charm to add to my charm bracelet. I love them!

The agonizing wait to see each other was undoubtedly worth it. There’s only one thing I cherish more than life and that is the unbreakable bond I share with my best friend Temora. 

Embracing My Differences

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Growing up I never saw myself as any different from everyone else. It was never a big deal to me that I simply sat and rolled while others stood and walked. I felt annoyed by, but quickly got used to children in public pointing at me and asking their parent what happened to me. It took me years to even realize that I am different. 

I’ve never seen the need to call attention to my differences. I am disabled yes, but I’m also just your average young adult with my own hobbies and aspirations, much like you may have. I have never attempted to consider myself as part of a “community” or felt the need to be celebrated for being “so strong” for the way that I live. 

When I randomly discovered that July was Disability Pride Month, I first felt silly that there even was a holiday celebrating people like me. But then, the story-lover in me did some research. Why is July “Disability Pride Month”? That’s because July marks the anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. I then recalled that I had once written on my blog about this very date.

Taking a second look at that date, astonishment set in me. It seemed so unbelievable to me that only 30 years ago, people like me were just granted rights that I have today. Today I can look around and see ramps at the end of many sidewalks. Because of what people of all different disabilities fought for, I was welcomed into public schooling because they are required to have wheelchair ramp access and elevators. What I had thought of as nothing more than a social media trend, now started to make sense. 

I now claim newfound pride to be a disabled person. I came to the realization that it’s okay to celebrate me and what I symbolize. This month gave me an opportunity to recognize how fortunate I am due to the plight of those who came before me. Although I refuse to let my disability entirely define me as a person, I took this month to recognize myself and embrace my position in a community of others like me.

I can do without the cliché, restrictive saying that I am “differently abled”. I know what I am capable of. My disability adds many challenges to my everyday life, but I’ve lived this way my whole life, and it is my normal. I’ve lived everyday simply accepting who I am, but now I vow to appreciate the things that make me, me. I have brown hair, brown eyes, and I have a disability in which I use a wheelchair to get around. From this month forward, I am embracing my differences.