Spring 2010 I’m Determined

Youth Summit

Essay Quotes

“My passion has always been to do my very best at everything I do. Just

because I have a disability I do not see my abilities as

limited.”-Thomas Allen

“I have shown self-determination in my college

classes by studying consistently over and over

instead of going to parties on campus.”

-Adam Amick

“I take pride in my disability as it helps me bond closer with my friends at college and my former classmates from high

school.”-Adam Amick

“Commitment, passion and responsibility; I have these

qualities and I use them every day. I use them in community, in school, and with my family and I am looking forward to college.”

-Alexander Anderson

“I see myself ten years from now enjoying my job in a salon,

married with a family and kids, and maybe even owning my own barbering business. I will have to

work hard to get to this point.”-Lauren Ashe

“I figured out that to get where I am, I had to be my own

advocate. This is a skill I will use throughout the rest of my

life.”-Lauren Ashe

“…I can become whatever I want to in life. I study hard and put forth my best effort at all times. I get very tired because I had to work

so hard but I know it will be worth the effort.”

-Presley Ashley

“In the future, I would like to become a registered nurse. I used to think this goal of mine would be impossible. The Self-Determination Club has helped me to think differently now.”

-Caroline Austin

“While life will always be more difficult for me, my self-

determination to do what I can, the best I can, will always be something I will work for.”

-Julius Jamal Blazer

“I show self-determination by setting goals and striving to

achieve them. One of my goals is going to college and I want to

go to Radford University.”-Erica Bookout

“Disabilities are often only thought of in a negative sense but they have had their positive effects on me too. I have learned a lot about myself, and in learning to compensate for my disabilities, I have learned what I am good at.”

-Cody Campbell

“Often, because of my wheelchair, people have a certain level of expectation of my abilities, but then I surprise them. I enjoy surprising them.”

-Liam Cornwall

“I am currently advocating to get my county school system

to integrate the bus system so students with disabilities can

ride the same buses as students without disabilities.”

-Liam Cornwall

“My teacher told me I could not take AP history. I told her I was going to do whatever I could to improve my grade in her class and make AP history. She told me I was being stubborn. I told her I was being determined.”

-Phillip Dollins

“The biggest hurdle I face is lack of accessibility. My town has one

accessible parking space and everyone uses it. I can’t get into many of the

government buildings. All of this has taught me how to be an advocate for

myself and for others with disabilities.” -Caroline Elgin

“I thought that I was not able to take a foreign language because I could

barely speak and write English. But then I looked into ASL, which is now a major part of what I want to become in the future. My goal is to study ASL

in college and (be) an interpreter.”-Erica Rachael Fiel

“College is way different than high school. I have had to learn to be self-

reliant and a self-advocate even more. My self-esteem has grown as I

have learned to communicate my needs. I’ve learned that if I don’t

stand up for myself, no one else will.”-Ethan Harvey

“I feel I am a self-determined person. I intently participate in

my IEP meeting. I set high goals, long term and short term

and I plan how to achieve them.”

-Dustin Horton

“Self-determination has become a big part of my life. I share my one-

pager with my teachers. I lead my IEP meeting, too. This helps my

teachers understand who I am and how my disability may affect me in

their classes.”-John Huband

“I know that I learn different from other people. But this has not stopped me from

doing things I want to do in high school.”

-Sam Hulcher

“Throughout the years I’ve always felt that having a disability has made a big

impact on my life. I knew I had to work harder with my study habits in reading and spelling. It gave me the strength to keep moving forward and

not give up so quickly.”-Devin Jones

“I feel living with a disability has helped me better myself in many ways. I have discovered a lot of

things about myself through learning and growing. I feel that I

am unique and also different.”-Collin Knight

“Only by letting people in can you learn new ways to be yourself. I have learned that sometimes all you need is to be yourself to be accepted by others, and that’s a valuable lesson I’ll keep for life.”

-Robert Maino

“I have accepted my disability and am determined to succeed. I have had

the support of my parents and family, doctors, teachers and a few good

friends. They love me and they want me to succeed which inspires me to

work hard and be successful.”-Michael Marzzacco

“…I like having a job because that gives me a chance to show people

that I can do things they think I cannot do. I have aides and

teachers that help make things easier for me. I have goals for

myself in life.”-Adam McMillan

“I am determined to reach my goals and not let others decide where my life leads. I know that I need help with some things, but I also know

that I am the one who has to make the choices to get where I want to

be in life.”Daniel Michael-Lee

“I made a one-pager on the computer and presented it at my meeting. For the first time, my teachers listened to what I had to say. I talked about what I wanted then to know about me such as…my dream job and the college I

want to attend.”-Ryan Miller

“It is my dream to drive, my dream to live on my own and succeed as an equal to many in this world. I

believe everyone should be treated equally no matter who

they are or what they do.”-Sonia Murden

“Now…I am finding my voice and learning to advocate for my needs,

my problems, and my ides. I have a new understanding of my

disabilities and this has allowed me to begin to create a path to my

future.”-Ethan Reed

“When someone tries to get me to do something I don’t like, I often show self-determination by considering whether or not it’s good to cave in to the way they want me to act. I

feel like I have to be my own man.”-JB Rintels

“The Youth Summit and other conferences showed me how

important it is to learn about your disability and to ‘own’ it. They have

taught me to be proud of my disability because it has been a huge

part in making me who I am.”-Tori Saylor

“Having just entered VCU, I am learning…it is mandatory to have the skills required to advocate for myself. My parents can no longer be my voice

and they can no longer ‘help’ me through tough times; I need to get

through on my own.”-Matthew Shapiro

“Since the day I was born I have had people tell me I was not going to make it and I should forget about my dreams and aspirations. As I have gotten older, I have become

grateful for those who did believe in me.”

-Maya Simmons

“…We need ideas to improve our public transportation. They only run in certain areas around town. I just wish the world would give us an opportunity to come and

go as we choose.”-Ron Sims

“As I grow up, I want to be able to drive, get a standard diploma, go

to college, have my own place and be able to work. Some people tell

me I can do it and other people say they are unrealistic dreams.”

-Samantha Stokes

“Every single day is a new experience, and along with it

is the undesirable task of whether to let people push me

around or ignore them.”-Blair Thomas

“I want to go to college but I have been told because of my disability I have

not had the courses a college requires. My parents and others are

working with colleges to develop courses that people with intellectual

disabilities can take.”-JD Tressler, Jr.

“Each year, I mature and I learn what is acceptable behavior and what is not. I wish that my peers could be forgiving and stop giving me such a hard time for behavior I exhibited

when I was in first and second grade.”

-Hunter Vermillion

“I learned so much at YLF and the most important thing I learned was not to be embarrassed about my disability. Now I can tell anyone

that I have a disability and it feels really good that I can say it.”

-Cameron Wilmer