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Everyone has a story to tell; some you can tell by looking at a person, but for others you have to get to know that person.\u00a0 From the outside, you see I’m short and hearing impaired however, this is not my story.\u00a0 My story is what I’ve learned and the journey I have been on while overcoming the everyday challenges I face.<\/p>\n
\nMy story starts when I was two years old, I was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a solid tumor cancer that originates in the adrenal gland.\u00a0 As a result of multiple rounds of chemo, radiation, and two stem cell transplants, I lost some of my hearing and my growth was stunted but I defeated the cancer.\u00a0 Eight years later, my brother passed away from leukemia, I was ten years old and had just lost my brother.\u00a0 I remember sitting there thinking everything would change; nothing would ever be the same.\u00a0 What I didn’t realize in that moment was one thing would remain the same, my determination to succeed in life.<\/p>\n
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Losing\u00a0 some of my hearing made learning in school and socializing in large groups much harder for me.\u00a0 I had a choice; I could use it as an excuse or I could accept the challenge and show the world what I was capable of doing.\u00a0 I chose to accept the challenges.\u00a0 Being hearing impaired means that in class I miss about 30% of what a teacher teaches in class.\u00a0 It is my job to be an advocate for myself and learn the material I miss.\u00a0 I’m not going to just sit there and not understand what’s going on.\u00a0 I also wasn’t going to let this hearing barrier stop me from hanging out with friends or participating in activities I enjoy.\u00a0 I still watch movies with my friends, the only difference is I turn on closed caption.\u00a0 When I have big groups of friends come over to my house to hang out, I just tell them to get my attention and look at me when they are talking.\u00a0 Even with my hearing loss i still participate in dance, concert and marching band and so many other things.\u00a0 In these activities when I cannot hear certain parts of the music or certain instruments, I use visual cues or look for other indication.<\/p>\n
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My height challenges also made some things in life harder for me, especially as I’ve gotten older.\u00a0 For example, pushing through the jolly green giants in the halls of my high school, in order to get to class on time, or finding a car I could drive.\u00a0 Not to mention dealing with the confused looks I received when I get out of my car at the gas station because I look much younger than I actually am.\u00a0 I also make adjustments for myself.\u00a0 In marching band, I play the xylophone, however, when I first started playing it was too tall, I brought in a step stool in order for it to be the proper height.\u00a0 I have a lot of step stools around my house in order to reach high shelves in my kitchen or reach the top of my closet.<\/p>\n
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Through my personal experiences I learned some very important lessons; adjustments can always be made and that one look from the outside of someone really shows you nothing.\u00a0 I know now that people who do that are blind to so much of the world around them just like they are blind to the potential I have.\u00a0 I have learned always be an advocate for myself and to not let obstacles stop you from doing what you love.\u00a0 These experiences and challenges I have faced have helped define who I am today; a strong, determined and driven person.<\/p>\n
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-Tara Lackey<\/p>\n
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