Trailblazin'

From the time I was very young, I have had to adapt to a world that is not made for someone in my position. On the bright side, having cerebral palsy has forced me to think outside of the box and come up with creative and innovative ways of doing everyday activities that accommodate my needs. Almost every aspect of my life involves logic, and as frustrating as this may be sometimes, it has ultimately sparked a fire of motivation inside of me to go forth and accomplish my goals and dreams no matter what I have to do in order to reach my destination.

A good friend of mine asked me a thought- provoking question earlier this week:

“Are there times where you get tired of being the “trail blazer”? Do you ever wish you could go down the easy road instead?”

Her question made think back to an experience I had while touring the university a couple weeks ago when I realized that there was only one washroom on the floor where I would be taking classes, in which I could fit my wheelchair through the doorway. I remember thinking that a university should be more accessible.

I do not think that life is supposed to be easy. If life was easy, I believe that we would not be truly living. Life does have a way throwing us unexpected curveballs that can throw us for a loop, but looking back, it is those experiences that we learn the most from. I have encountered many individuals who think I am determined, tenacious and inspiring. I am just an ordinary girl trying to live an ordinary life. I have been extremely fortunate to receive an abundance of love, support and encouragement from my family, friends and co- workers. However, I am aware that not everyone with a disability in particular has received this kind of support.

Not everyone has been told that they can do anything that they set their minds to. We live in a world full of stereotypes not just about disability, but also about race, ethnicity and gender. It is my hope that stories like mine can alter the way in which people think about the world around them. I want everyone to have what they need to be successful, regardless of our differences. I want to live in a world where people are not afraid to chase their dreams because there is a lack of necessary modifications. I cannot even count how many people who I have met with a different ability who have not been given the opportunity to reach their full potential for this reason. Most importantly, it is my dream to see that everyone believes in their capabilities, because knowing that people believe in you is what motivates us to conquer life’s challenges and dream big.