The Quiet One In The Back Of The Room. by Jamie

The Quiet One In The Back Of The Room. by Jamie - January 2015 Scholarship Essay

If I could give a professor one piece of advice to help me learn, it would be to not judge. Instead , have patience with me. The chair is nothing more than extension of my body. It is what I use to get around because my legs don’t want to corporate with my brain. The scars that you see on my neck, knuckles and upper left chest are survivor scars from an accident that could have very nearly taken my life two years ago.

The elderly lady that sits next to me is my grandmother. She devotes her time two afternoons a week so that I may continue my dream of higher education. The other lady that comes with me during night courses—that’s my Mom. If her eyes look tired, she just worked an eight hour shift getting yelled at by customers at the DMV. She’s also battled for nine years, but you’d never know it. I’m the quiet one in the back of the room because not only am I fully paying attention to your lecture instead of playing on my phone—like the person in the corner—I’m afraid that when I do speak in answer to your question with what I hope will be the correct answer, that I will stutter and that you will see this as a reflection of my intellect. I have Cerebral Palsy—it does NOT have me! I’m not a victim of circumstance, I am a survivor.

When I hand you my DRC accommodation forms, please don’t just brush them aside. Talk to me—not at me. My legs don’t work, but my brain works perfectly well. Please Sir/Madame, don’t judge me. I've fought a battle that few know about. I've “jumped” through every hurdle and curve ball that life has thrown at me . I’m here, ready and willing to learn, if you are ready and willing to listen!

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter!