June 29, 2007 - 6:57pm — sweetbliss27
Second Interview
Star name: Linda
Age: 19
Location: New York City
School: Baruch College
Disability: Transverse Myelitis
Scope 1- Can you tell us more about your disability?
Linda: Sure. Transverse Myelitis is a type of virus that goes into a person’s spinal cord and disrupts the nervous system. Depending on the location of the disruption, a certain part of the body will be affected. The virus I contracted disconnected the part of the nervous system which controls the function of my lower extremities. I can’t feel anything from waist down therefore I’m confined to a wheelchair 24/7. Transverse Myelitis also comes with a bunch of other medical conditions after the initial period. For me, it was scoliosis and bladder problems.
Scope 2- What is the biggest obstacle in your life? How did you manage to overcome?
Linda: I would say the biggest obstacle in my life would be going to the hospital all the time for numerous medical problems. It was time consuming but also greatly affected my attendance in school. Sometimes I would stay in the hospital for a month to get over a really bad infection. In order to make up for all the missing lectures and homework, I started to study by myself right away after I was discharged. I remember I used to spend an entire day reading assigned textbooks. After one week, I managed to complete more than three weeks of work. I was so proud of myself!
Scope 3- Does your disability force your family apart or does it brought everyone closer together?
Linda: I think in a way it brought my family closer together. Everyone in my family became very protective of me. Especially my mom who made sure my disability doesn’t get in my way of living a normal life. My brother is the best because he doesn’t seem to see my disability at all!
Scope 4- Do you sometimes feel difficult to make new friends because of your disability?
Linda: I felt that way in high school but now that I’m in college things are different. I’m not saying I don’t have any friends in high school because of my disability but I had only a few close friends. High school was all about popularity so I guess the reason my classmates don’t want to be close to me was because they don’t want to look bad. In college, everyone is all grownups and they don’t judge me just because I am using a wheelchair. After all, the chair doesn’t define who I am.
Scope 5- Are you still single or are you currently seeing someone right now?
Linda: Unfortunately, I’m still single. I guess my disability have a little to do with that. There are many guys in college who helps me out with the door or if I dropped something but no one asked me out. Also maybe it’s hard for them to approach me because I’m really shy in person. This is definitely something I needed to work on.
Scope 6- What is your major in college right now? What do you hope to accomplish with it?
Linda: My major right now is business management. I wasn’t planning to choose a business major because numbers make me dizzy. However, I found out there are three specializations under a business management. Human resource management appealed to me the most because I always wanted to make a difference for other disabled individuals in the workplace. I hope someday I can work as a human resource generalist to make sure there’s no discrimination of those physically challenged when it comes to hiring new employees.
Scope 7- What do you say would be your greatest achievement in life so far?
Linda: My greatest achievement would be launching a youth venture team on my own. Youth Venture is an organization that supports youths to start their own organization or business by granting those teams that passed the selection panel a $1000 check. My team called Chair Advocates was one of the teams. Chair Advocates encourage those with disability to reach independence by taking advantage of all the available adaptive equipments out there. As the president of this venture, I really hope Chair Advocates can make a difference in the community and beyond. For more information regarding my organization go to www.chairadvocates.org.
Scope 8- If you can give one advice to the readers, what would it be?
Linda: If you have a disability, don’t let it stop you from doing what your heart desires. Adapt to your disability and let it become the source of your strength as you chase your dreams. There are no limitations to how far you can go once you put your mind to it.