Who Am I?
As I read the book, Tell Me Who You Are, written by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi, I came across the interview of a woman named Melina. She had said many things that stood out to me. One of the most notable sayings was, “It helps me find compassion for people who are in different places in their journey” (Guo & Vulchi, 2019). Her interview was about her journey to understand the difference between how both Caucasians and African Americans are treated in society. The journey she took in understanding these differences made her want to teach other Caucasians about the differences and made her into the person she is today. After reading about her interview and the experiences that made her who she is today, I started to reflect on my life and experiences and ask the question: Who am I?
Who am I? When I asked this question, many things came to mind; I am someone who is kind and generous. I am a daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and older sister. I am kind, strong and I am someone who would love to become a special education teacher.
But I am also someone with cerebral palsy, and this disability also makes me who I am. If I am walking down the street, people sometimes don’t notice my hair or eye color; they notice my slight limp. My disability comes with its own difficulties and challenges. I get tired after walking for long periods of time, and I don’t do good in the cold. I have had many extensive surgeries, which were needed to improve the way I walk.
I realize people may stare as I walk down the street. But I don’t care if people stare. My disability is one of the main things that shaped me into the person I am. It is also the driving force behind my desire to become a special education teacher. I want to help children with disabilities realize that if they set their minds to something, they can achieve anything.
I want to inspire children like me and prove to them that their disabilities should not stop them from doing what they love and that they should not be embarrassed by their disability. Their disabilities make them unique.
This lesson took me a very long time to learn, and it’s something I wish I had learned sooner. My limitations don’t define me. However, without my disability and the experiences that came with it, I would not be who I am. I would not be the person who wants to prove I can do anything, despite what some may say. I would not be as strong as I am both physically and mentally.
My disability has shaped me into the person I am today. If I were ever given the option of not being disabled, I would, of course, take it. It has taken me a long time to accept my disability. But my disability has made me who I am. I am strong, kind, and someone who wants to help children with similar disabilities succeed in any way they can.
Bibliography
Guo, W., & Vulchi, P. (2019). Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing our stories of race, culture, & identity. London, United Kingdom: PENGUIN Books.
No comments:
Post a Comment