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What the Special Olympics Taught Me
Apr 25, 2013 11:41 AM
By Lillie Bertelkamp '16 - '16
Today I helped out at the Floyd County Special Olympics. I was a little more qualified to help these special athletes because I grew up with two disabled cousins.
My cousins’ names are Lisa and John. They are both very motivated to try as hard as they can to live a normal life. Lisa was born with Downes Syndrome and could barely talk at all until she was about 10. John, who is 42 now, was a terrible alcoholic all through his 30s and had a terrible car accident while under the influence. He is now paralyzed from the neck down. He spends all of his time in a motorized wheelchair that he controls with a little mouth piece. He can hardly talk, but you see the pain and regret in his eyes. He could have been so much more than a victim of alcoholism.
Today at the Special Olympics I helped a lot of people in very similar situations to John and Lisa, but when I encountered a blind athlete and his mother, I wasn’t sure how to help them. I asked if he wanted to try the long jump. He enthusiastically agreed, and his mom gave me his hand. His mom and I both assumed I would be jumping into the sand with him. But he hesitantly stated that he could do it all by himself. His mom looked very nervous but I could tell that she didn’t want to baby him by telling him no. So she said ok. I walked him to the edge of the sand and told him to jump forward on the count of three. His mother nervously glanced at me, and I gave her a reassuring smile, even though I wasn’t so sure about this myself. Then I counted to three and hoped for the best. He jumped about 18 inches and then fell flat on his butt. His mom and I rushed to help him up and he was giggling like crazy. When he finally got to his feet, an ear-to-ear smile spread across his face, and he said the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard, “Mom, I really did it, all by myself.” A tear ran down his mother’s face at the sight of her son so happy. She looked at me and mouthed the words “Thank you.” Then a tear ran down my face.
This experience showed me how something so small can mean the world to a kid like that. I realized that I didn’t appreciate my ability to play sports with no worries. Then it hit me, how much I take for granted the simplest of things, like running, catching a ball, seeing a beautiful sunset, or having the freedom to go out into the world alone. I thought I was going to the Special Olympics to help people, which I
did. However, more importantly, they opened up my eyes and taught me to stop complaining, stop making excuses, and get out there and live life to the fullest.
I discovered that anybody has the ability to be happy, silly, enthusiastic, kind, nurturing and outgoing. But people don’t because they are afraid of uncertainty. People are afraid of being shot down, being called annoying, letting down their guard and letting things in that might hurt them. But something that is scary or uncertain has the potential to be the greatest thing that ever happened to you.
So learn to let your guard down every once in a while; someone might leave a lasting impact. Try something new; you’ll never find your calling if you don’t try new things. That thing you are afraid to try could be your passion. That person you’re afraid to open up to, could be your best friend.
My cousins’ names are Lisa and John. They are both very motivated to try as hard as they can to live a normal life. Lisa was born with Downes Syndrome and could barely talk at all until she was about 10. John, who is 42 now, was a terrible alcoholic all through his 30s and had a terrible car accident while under the influence. He is now paralyzed from the neck down. He spends all of his time in a motorized wheelchair that he controls with a little mouth piece. He can hardly talk, but you see the pain and regret in his eyes. He could have been so much more than a victim of alcoholism.
Today at the Special Olympics I helped a lot of people in very similar situations to John and Lisa, but when I encountered a blind athlete and his mother, I wasn’t sure how to help them. I asked if he wanted to try the long jump. He enthusiastically agreed, and his mom gave me his hand. His mom and I both assumed I would be jumping into the sand with him. But he hesitantly stated that he could do it all by himself. His mom looked very nervous but I could tell that she didn’t want to baby him by telling him no. So she said ok. I walked him to the edge of the sand and told him to jump forward on the count of three. His mother nervously glanced at me, and I gave her a reassuring smile, even though I wasn’t so sure about this myself. Then I counted to three and hoped for the best. He jumped about 18 inches and then fell flat on his butt. His mom and I rushed to help him up and he was giggling like crazy. When he finally got to his feet, an ear-to-ear smile spread across his face, and he said the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard, “Mom, I really did it, all by myself.” A tear ran down his mother’s face at the sight of her son so happy. She looked at me and mouthed the words “Thank you.” Then a tear ran down my face.
This experience showed me how something so small can mean the world to a kid like that. I realized that I didn’t appreciate my ability to play sports with no worries. Then it hit me, how much I take for granted the simplest of things, like running, catching a ball, seeing a beautiful sunset, or having the freedom to go out into the world alone. I thought I was going to the Special Olympics to help people, which I
did. However, more importantly, they opened up my eyes and taught me to stop complaining, stop making excuses, and get out there and live life to the fullest.
I discovered that anybody has the ability to be happy, silly, enthusiastic, kind, nurturing and outgoing. But people don’t because they are afraid of uncertainty. People are afraid of being shot down, being called annoying, letting down their guard and letting things in that might hurt them. But something that is scary or uncertain has the potential to be the greatest thing that ever happened to you.
So learn to let your guard down every once in a while; someone might leave a lasting impact. Try something new; you’ll never find your calling if you don’t try new things. That thing you are afraid to try could be your passion. That person you’re afraid to open up to, could be your best friend.
