Accessibility Week

This week on campus is Accessibility Week. Mind you, I didn't notice until today. Wednesday. Mid-week. I am horrible. Anywho, I was walking through the Wilk, heading to my first class and the Accessibility booth was set up. "Want to participate in a challenge?" Umm, don't ask me that lady, I ALWAYS want to participate in a challenge. "Only if you're okay with me winning" I respond. Jokes on me, there is no winner. I was told to pick a handicap to "live with" for two hours and I would get a free shirt. SCORE! So after I examined my options I saw a wheelchair. During the time my mom was in rehab, I developed mad wheelchair racing skills. Tanner, Riley and I would wheelie down halls, race, shove each other into random rooms, practice cutting corners. My technique is fantastic. "I pick the wheelchair" Never in a million years did I know what I was getting into.

I've been having a hard time finding words to describe my experience. I guess the best word would be humbled. I was completely humbled. Campus is a lot bigger in a wheelchair. The ramps are so steep I found them almost useless. Because the pavement is uneven, my wheelchair kept turning, making it so my strides couldn't be as long because I had to yank my wheel to get going straight again. After making it to one class I was spent. Leaving my Book of Mormon class I think my frustration showed on my face because a cute random girl came up to me and said "Where are you headed? Can I give you a push?" I said "I would love that so much. I'm headed to the JSB" (almost the very end of campus) The girl responded with a "Great that's right where I am headed!" comment, and off we went.Without making me feel like a charity case, she pushed me into the building, told me to have a great day and walked back out of the building. She was not heading to the JSB. Actually, I watched her leave and she ran back the other direction. She went out of her way to get me where I was going. I wheeled into class fighting back emotions and completely grateful.

 

After my American Heritage class in the JSB I was ready to turn back in my wheelchair. I had finished my 2 hours and I was exhausted. Yep kids. 2 hours. So after pushing myself halfway back to the Wilk another cute girl just started pushing me and said "Campus is so big! Where are you headed?" I told her the Wilk. "Great! I'm going to the library!" So she pushed me to the library and I kept on, heading to the Wilk. I felt so awkward pushing myself in a crowd. I could keep up just fine, but I kept knocking peoples ankles or people would unknowingly walk crooked and I was out of space. When I was approaching the ramp at the Wilk, I paused to get some strength to get up the ramp. A guy came behind me, pushed me up the ramp, and opened the door for me. I was singing his praise and he responded by saying "Oh, its not a big deal, I was planning on holding this door open anyways" So nice! Fighting back emotions again, I wheeled up to the booth to return my wheelchair. I was so excited to turn that thing back in. I was done. I got my shirt, stood up, and left the wheelchair at the booth.

 

 

Today I learned lessons I thought I already knew. I know how tricky it is to have a mom in a wheelchair and I thought I knew how hard it was to be in a wheelchair. I thought I could handle this "challenge" with ease. I thought I would be a rock star. I was humbled. The kids that pushed me were angels. Seriously. I didn't have anything left, and without making a big deal they helped me. The people who helped me today showed me what a Christ-like person is. I was shown random acts of kindness, just because. Besides that, I got to understand how amazing my mom is. She is such a champ. She never acts tired, or gives up. I got to get up and walk out, and she doesn't have that option. My mom is such a huge example to me. I never really understood how hard it is not being able to just go somewhere. I know how to load and unload a wheelchair, I can assemble a wheelchair in 30 seconds flat, but being the one in the chair is a different story. I am so grateful to have such an amazing example. I admire her so much. And all the other amazing people I have in my life that get to show me up in their wheelchair (Lisa Paulsen!) I am so proud to know you.

 

If you want to read BYU's article about last years Awareness Week, the link is below:
BYU Accessibility Awareness Week 2011 article

College Life: String Cheese and Diet Coke

Welp....My third week of living in Provo is ending. BYU is a lot more fun than i imagined. I was really nervous i would be a way suckie student, but the teachers dont demand outrageous things. Its all very doable. Most of my classes are pointless because the teachers assign things to read and then just review it during class so my Spider Solitaire skills are improving greatly. Everyone on campus is really nice, and i actually love having the gospel and teachings from the prophets in almost every class. It just brings an eternal perspective to everything. The only problem ive encountered is the whole eating business. I SUCK! I was nervous about the Freshman Fifteen, but i have the exact opposite problem! I never eat food! My meals consist of Diet Coke and String Cheese. Im totally fine with that, i love those, but i run out of steam like half-way across campus. I just never want to make things and the rare times i do i dont want to walk to the store. My laziness has gotten the best of me. And noone will feed me but myself here so...... i gotta figure out a plan. Boo. Id appreciate a feeding tube i think! College is a party party party. Here is evidence:

My first day of college. Thanks for the quality pic Lydia.

Our first college party. Got in a car with strangers, i got kissed by the stranger, then we got ditched by these strangers. We suck at living.

The Wilson Phillips concert with my best man, Cameron. Yeah, we rocked it. Ever seen Bridesmaids? Yeah the last song, "Hold On" Wilson Phillips sang that. Boo ya!