A Lion's Share Of Courage

Courage is a word that many people with disabilities hear, but always in the wrong context. You might hear a reporter mention it takes a lot of courage for that person to go on. I've also heard, "You've got a lot of courage living the way you do."

What is so different about the way I live? On a daily basis, not much is different from what anyone else does. I get up in the morning, I hop in the shower. Then I get dressed. I still get dressed like everyone else. I get in my van and drive to town or to school. Sound like the normal routine?

It takes no more courage for me to struggle with my buttons on my shirt than it takes for someone else to tie their shoes. Courage is standing up to your worst fear. Courage is doing the right thing, even though everyone else tells you not to. Courage is not living with a disability.

Looking up synonyms to the word, courage, the word perseverance comes up. In our stereotypical world, words like adversity and perseverance equate to a struggle. With that people assume living with a disability is a struggle.
The real thing that people with disabilities grapple with is the inability for people to see us for who we really are: people. So now that you know we are all the same, what constitutes real courage?

Courage is a fireman risking his or her life to save others. Courage is a teenager saying no to peer pressure. Courage is getting up and doing something that can make a difference.
I go to college. My Family is happy with my productivity. I guess I can rest easy with this knowledge. But have you ever had that feeling you're meant to be somewhere else? Or maybe you feel like you're in a dead-end job, but do nothing about it? Are you willing to be courageous and do something about it?

I made a decision a last year that is radically going to change my life. In 1999, I became a Freshman at a University at the age of 27. I am studing to be an Art Education Teacher.
This was not something I did just to be socially conscious or just to get a good job or even just to be more involved with others.
I did it to change my life to be the way I wan't it to be. And to teach others like me not to sit and take what life hands you.