Wednesday night, I went to my monthly support group. This one was really touching. There were quite a lot of new people-most of them paraplegics and quadriplegics. Some were disabled from birth. Hearing how some of the people got hurt really touched my heart. One guy fell down an elevator shaft. Another woman was severely burned.

What’s nice about this support group are three things; meeting new people, learning about different disabilities and hearing how some of the people got hurt. One thing I’ve learned is that once somebody gets paralyzed or hurt, their whole lives change. It’s not like when someone is born with a disability and can accept it more easily. These people become depressed once disabled because they’re not as independent as they were before. My message for today is don’t let your disability get you down. Instead, learn to cope with it because life is still livable.

I decided to give people a sneak peek of one of my poems from my book. Enjoy!

Friend or Foe?

Let me lay this out for you.

 

Would you prefer a friend who

Is the top of her class, as smart as a book,

Is a genius at everything, pulls good grades,

But is stuck-up?

 

Or

 

Would you prefer a friend who

Is in a wheelchair, is nice and

Friendly to everyone regardless

Of her condition and is still pulling

The same high grades?

 

I’d take a good friend over a bad one.

I’d take a good friend over a bad one.

Some people don’t care either way, but

I’d take a good friend over a bad one any day.

 

Okay now check this out.

 

You have a guy and he’s good-looking,

Your type of man. Tall, muscular and

Handsome. He is from a wealthy family,

But he’s mean to you.

 

Or

 

Would you prefer a guy who may

Have a disability, but is charming

In every way, has a heart of gold,

Cares for you, and most importantly,

Loves you for who you are?

 

I’d take a good friend over a bad one.

I’d take a good friend over a bad one.

Some people don’t care either way, but

I’d take a good friend over a bad one any day.

 

Okay, one last question.

 

Your prom is coming up. You’re

Looking for a girl to go. You ask your

Girl to go, she accepts. It’s prom night.

She sees her friends and runs off, leaving

You in the dust.

 

Or

 

Would you prefer a loyal date, staying

At your side, looking into your eyes all

Night long? And even though she can’t

Walk, you guys are laughing and dancing

And having fun throughout the night.

 

I’d take a good friend over a bad one.

I’d take a good friend over a bad one.

Some people don’t care either way, but

I’d take a good friend over a bad one any day.

 

I got into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society at Rockland Community College.

I got into the honor society for outstanding grades and my first college scholarship. The president of the college sent me a letter regarding this and I went wild. I mean, I wasn’t on the honor society on high school and now I get into college and this happens. It was truly an astonishment to receive this letter.

Always try your hardest in education or work. You’ll never know where your efforts will get you. Don’t let the slightest problem get in your way. Do that, and you’ll come out on top.