Jen

NOTE:�I though about writing a book about my life. I started and then found out it would be a challenge. I have given that up and made then into short stories.��
I don't see people like me writing there story, so you the reader will know people like me are "JUST LIKE YOU."

NOTE: Don't mind my speeling!

JUST LIKE YOU

I was born in a small town called Lafayette, Indiana and raised on a farm until I was three. Compared Lafayette to those big towns and you well see what I mean. .Then my family moved close to Purdue University in West Lafayette on in a house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Another bedroom was later added on for my parents above the garage. Also the old garage fell down because of my dad trying to extend it so the van would fit in. A funny thing happened whale I was away one day, the garage almost fell down on my dad.

I was born with lack of oxygen to the brain. I got a slow start on life, but I made it through with my parent�s constant help. I have a handicapped called Mentally Medically Handicapped. My life stated out simple until my parents found out that I had a handicapped. I went to Pre-School and kindergarten like all the other kids. Starting in 1st grade until 12th grade I was in Special Ed classes. All through my school years I was in Special Ed classes when I needed it. All through High School I did my very best to learn all that I can. I didn�t acted like it, but I did deep down.
I don�t remember any of my preschool years, excepted the pictures that were shown to me. I remember seeing a picture of me with my dad riding a horse. When I would go to camp, I would sign up for horseback riding until I was sixteen.
Learning the simple things in life was not easy for me because I was slower then the kids my age. I just wanted to be like everyone ales. I had a hard start at life and starting School, although I was in classes like all the other kids. I went to the Special Ed classes when I needed the extra help. That was mainly for doing all of my class work. At first I needed help doing my class work because I could not concentrate in first grade. Most of my childhood I remember being made fun of because of my slowness and what or how I did things. My mom says, �It�s because they think they are better then you.� In some cases they are but I could outlast them in Swimming.
I remember my family went on sabbatical for half a year in fifth grade. I made some friends but lost them again and I was put into a Special class where they were starting on division. I did not yet know how to multiply yet. Now that I think back I say they should started me on Times Tables first, not on division.

I was in Special classes for most of High School when I needed them. I started of in mainly Special Ed classes in one or two �Basic� classes. As time went on I got up to where I was in all �Basic� classes excepted for Study Hall.At graduation I got a �Vocational award� besides my Diploma. I did not even know I was going to get it and it surprised me. Starting in first grade the trouble for me began. I let the people who made fun of me all my life get to my head. Now it�s hard to tell the people who are just jockeying to the people who aren�t. Because of my hard childhood I am still struggling and it�s getting easier little by little.

Special Olympics is part of the risen I am who I am today. Special Olympics has tote me to become all that I can be. Special Olympics has become a part of my life sense I was ten and tote me it does not matter what you do until you try.
My mane sport is swimming and all the practices I put in has lead me to going to the Special Olympics World Games in June of 1999 in North Carolina. It was so fun and I will never forget it. I got to meet people from around the world. I traded pins and T-shirts; Arnold S. went through the whole pool one day and shook all the athletes hands including mine. I got 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and two participant ribbons (relays).

To be the best I can be, I took High School courses that I though best scouted my needs and learning skills. All went to being in almost all Special Ed classes in 9th grade to none in 12th.

I mostly had to learn everything by myself. I had help in School but not on life. I have a heard time aspiring my feeling even as a child and now it�s even harder, but not if it�s in writing.
Special Olympics has been my light. I�ve learned a lot through the years and has lead me to be wanting more then just an athlete. Besides an athlete I am in ALPS (Athlete Leadership Program). It�s about Athletes giving their suggestion about Special Olympics.

Let me start off by saying any kind of retardation is just a handicapped. I know because I was born with Cerebral Hypotonia (lack of oxygen). I have a kind of handicapped where I learn slower than others do. I can do everything you can except I need extra help learning some things. Like in school, I was in Special Ed classes for the extra help. As I got into High School, I was still in some Special classes. All the other classes I was in would be called �Basic� classes; not a Special Ed classes. For slower kids they are put in Special Ed so they can learn at there own pace and get the help they need. Because I got the help I needed; it helped me a great deal to go up to the level where I was not in any Special classes anymore.

In School I had my hard times and my bad times. There are some incidents that I can recall to this day. Because, of one of them I do not make friends very good. I mean they have to befriend me first. There was another time that is personal but, won�t let me get close to men in a relationship.