Breaking Stereotypes Through Education by Amanda

Breaking Stereotypes Through Education by Amanda - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

Attending college is a must for me. Not because my parents wanted me to or even the community, but because I have a disability called Cerebral Palsy. I feel like in the disability community, there is an unspoken rule that you have to prove yourself to everyone. Society has so many stereotypes about what people with disabilities can’t do.

“You’re too slow. You can’t speak, hear or see, so you can’t learn. You use a wheelchair as a means of mobility, so that must mean you can’t understand or speak for yourself.” Those are just a few.

When I meet people and tell them that I’m a college student, 80 percent of the time, a look of surprise comes across their face. They say, “Oh wow! That’s awesome! You’re such an inspiration!” or something to the same effect.

Truth is, it is awesome. It’s awesome that I’m pursuing my goal to help children with disabilities grow up in a society with fewer stereotypes and more understanding. It’s awesome that I have the opportunity to even go to college. However, the one thing I wish I wasn’t is an inspiration. To me, I’m just a normal college student. But to society, if I do even simple things like smile or talk, it’s inspirational because it goes against stereotypes.

Therefore, getting an education is important to me because I’m a small part in a big effort to break the stereotypes against people with disabilities. Getting an education allows me to educate the next generation. One person can change a lot if we all work together.