My Perspective: Being In A Wheelchair

People become curious when they see something different. For me, the topic of being in a wheelchair is not something I mind talking about. I feel like it is great if people are comfortable asking questions about it.

When I started attending school in a wheelchair (probably about the middle of grade 9), it took me a very long time to get used to it. There were people that stared and stared and stared. Rude, right?

Not really. Well, at least not to me.

I'm not going to lie. I was nervous for quite some time showing up to school in a wheelchair. Would I have trouble making friends? It was uncomfortable at first because I was new to it. Taking a school bus in the winter even though I lived maybe ten minutes away from school, it felt weird. What would people think? What would people say? Well, nobody said anything about that.

I have noticed that some people want to ask but are too shy about it, so they just end up staring...which is okay with me. It is mostly just little kids that stare. When I am in, say, the mall, I guarantee that there will be some little kids that stop walking and stare at my wheelchair when I go by them.

The transition from walking to being on crutches to permanently being in a wheelchair was not easy, especially in regards to my emotions. I was big into sports. I loved playing sports. Going outside at recess throwing a football around; kicking around a soccer ball; Hitting a baseball... I can't express how much I enjoyed all of those sports.

One sport I had no problem playing while in a wheelchair is basketball. I discovered that basketball would be high on my to-do list, so I decided to attend wheelchair basketball practice at the University of Winnipeg. These practices were twice a week. I remember being pumped to go every time! It was one of the best experiences of my life.

Sure, being in a wheelchair takes away some abilities I could have if I wasn't in the wheelchair, but everybody has their own difficulties and journey in life. People find ways to accomplish their goals. Goals change. That's something that is quite exciting in life. I had to adapt and was able to learn some different things about myself.

In the earlier years of being in a wheelchair, there had been a small chance that I could walk again. I spent countless days doing my best to walk with a walker while wearing a brace that went from my toes right up my entire leg. It felt great to be able to walk even short distances every day. Unfortunately, the idea started to walk out the door (see what I did there?). It just became too difficult, as my legs became weaker.

That's okay.

When I was younger, and able to play sports, I had the dream of being an NFL player. There was that confidence that filled my heart. In my mind, it was going to happen. Realistically, the odds of it happening were never great either way, but can't blame me for dreaming!

The fact that I am in a wheelchair has not ruined my positivity. I have been able to cope with the fact of being in a wheelchair and have gotten to know myself better. My strength, my positivity, even my personality. This is who I am.

My goal is to just become more and more positive in life and I hope that I can inspire others to do the same.