I gave a speech tonight that touched many people. When I get an opportunity like the one I had tonight, words cannot express the way I feel when I give a speech. The College has a rich tradition in giving thanks and I absolutely love being an active member of traditions the college has. Here is the speech I gave tonight.
When I go home this Thanksgiving, I will have a mother and father who love me unconditionally, a brother and sister who are excelling in school and their extracurricular activities. My mother and father will enquire about my sorority, my grades, and other stuff that I care about. I have a family who not only listens but also cares very deeply about everything I do. I’m incredibly thankful for that fact alone, however, when I really thought about what I am really thankful for, I came to one conclusion. I’m thankful for being different. God made me different for a distinctive reason. I am still figuring out that reason which admittedly has its difficulties but the journey to finding out this answer has brought three glorious families to my life, and I have also had incredible moments due to being different.
I already told you about my most important family. My mother, father, brother and sister. My parents are the best parents God could of gave me. They push me to my greatest limits inspiring me to push myself everyday. However, more recently, I have realized that because I push myself so much at times, they have realized that they frequently need to remind me that I am not super woman. I honestly forget that at times. They have been brilliant enough to realize that their job is to have me look at what I really need to accomplish, whether it be that day, or in life. My brother and sister thankfully don’t see me as being different. When one of their friends asks, why is your older sister that way? They respond, because she is. It’s such a priceless moment for me because they speak the truth in that moment. My family and I have experienced humorous, sentimental, and some of the best family moments from me being different. . I would not trade those memories just so I could walk or talk, that is how I know God made me this way for a reason, God wants happiness for people and I do because of my differences. Now, I have a second family that I see once a year.
I go to a place called Camp Courage. It is a camp for people with disabilities. For that week, I feel completely normal because I look like everyone else. Everyone else is in wheelchairs, some use computers to talk, everybody moves differently like I do, and every single camper has also spilled an entire dinner on the floor because of uncontrolled movements. I am immersed in this world for seven days. I experience the feeling of rejuvenation and Camp is what keeps me going on difficult days where I feel a little bit too different. Like I said being different does have its difficulties, however, I have people who understand what it’s like which is a incredible blessing. So, I think God thought to himself, if I give this child hurtles to overcome, I better give her a good support system. And, He really did a great job because He knew that I needed to be at Elmhurst College, which is my third family.
The family I am with tonight is quite special. Being different at Elmhurst is not something that is frowned upon. It is encouraged and admired. I mean, I am on banners, you must like me. Nobody has seen my disability as an obstacle to get around, just a part of my life. At freshmen orientation, I was not the girl in the wheelchair, I was Hannah. Now, it is my junior year and I think I know just about everyone. Because I am different, when I attend events at the Mill Theater, they know exactly which seat I will be in, they know my favorite drink at the coffee bar, they know that I love pasta at the cafeteria, my classmates know which desk to move when I enter the classroom, and I could list hundreds of other things that people know about me because I stand out. With that being said, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for embracing a woman for what God intended her to be. This Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for being different. I will end with a Bible passage. It is from Ezre, 10 4, Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."
I kept this post short and sweet because I have a paper to finish, two research presentations to prepare for, three essays, two journals, and one speech to write. However, I had to write in my blog because I simply love what it has turned into. My readers mean the world to me.
God Bless. Happy Thanksgiving!
All My Love,
Hannah!
