The Beginning of the End

I have been blessed enough to receive the MarianJoy Scholarship for four consecutive years. This was my last year receiving the scholarship. Tears came as I realized that it also meant my last year at Elmhurst. The scholarship committee asks all recipients prepare a speech upon receiving the scholarship. I delivered two heartfelt speeches to the scholarship committee and fellow recipients. I thought this was a good way to begin the end of Hannah's College Adventures.

This was a speech I delivered in 2009 right after completing freshman year.

It was countless hours of therapy. It was countless hours of my parents working with me on my exercises. It was my younger brother and sister going to therapy sessions. It was me learning how to use a communication device. It was me having the courage to say I can go to college. Those examples are just a few of the things that made me an independent young woman on August 25th, 2008, the day I started college. I went to college to learn academics but I ended up being educated by the tasks of my brand new life.

Education is a very broad term to me because of my lifestyle. Of course, it can be going to a classroom and taking notes. However, I have encountered education in different senses. I taught myself how to handle up to ten different women as my assistants. I learned not to call my mom if something goes wrong because she starts panicking. I learned that I have to be an active member on campus for everybody to feel comfortable around me. I learned that professors will not simply assign a note taker to me; I have to be the one to ask. I learned that you can recover from being turned away from a sorority, and three months later join the brand new sorority on campus; that felt good. I learned that family is the most important part of my life no matter where I am. I learned that there are ignorant people out there and as much as you hope and want to change those people, you cannot change them. I learned that there are some people who are understanding and accepting of differences and to focus on those people. I learned that when I am having a bad day, there will always be someone that I can turn to. I learned that when you succeed against the odds, it feels indescribably good and beautiful. Essentially, I learned that I have to teach myself how I as an individual with a physical impairment can have the freedom of independence. If I can say three words at the end of the day, I have succeeded for that day.

I may not be able to walk, talk, or eat by myself but if I can say I am independent, those three words, those daily obstacles will not seem to matter. In a world where everyone is so consumed with how they look, where they work, and what car they drive, if I can teach people that simply being independent for the day is an accomplishment, then every dollar that went into receiving my degree in communication will be worth it and if spreading this concept is what I do for the rest of my life as an motivational speaker I will be thrilled. I want to thank Marian joy for being a part of why I can say I am independent.

This was my final and last speech for MarianJoy.

As I stand here before you I am filled with gratitude. Going to college with a disability is the epitome of a challenge. You have to go to such great lengths and there have been a few days where I have thought to myself why am I doing this? On those days, I thought of tonight. I thought of the people here. I wanted to be here. You know, that call from the scholarship committee is always this feeling of I’m doing this well. To know I have done this well and to the best of my ability is reassuring to say the least. It’s always so nice to know that people in my shoes think I’m doing a good job.

This is my final year receiving this scholarship which is bittersweet. Receiving the scholarship has meant so much. I cannot put my gratitude into words. However, I am so excited for the first time recipients this evening. Each recipient is in for an incredible ride. As the seniors get ready to take a bow, they are just beginning their journeys as college students. That is so exciting to me! I remember the feeling of college being a mystery. Now it is my home. The journey in between consists of finding yourself, what you’re passionate about, and finding people who support your dream, whatever it may be. The thing about having a disability is that we have a unique perspective and because we have that, we have the power to challenge people. That is not what most young adults can say. For the last and final time here at MarianJoy, thank you to my family, they are truly heroic in the way they support me. I would like to give a warm thank you to my sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce and Joann Schurman. A final thank you to Marian joy for four years of faith in me, all I can say is thank you and God bless.

This brings me to the future...of the blog. I'll write about my personal future when I am ready. As for Hannah's College Adventures, the last post will be when I graduate from Elmhurst College. Don't worry! I will start a brand new blog. I have found a name for this brand new blog but it will be a secret until the new blog is launched. I have been thinking of the future of my blog since December. I love it too much not to put a lot of thought to my next blog.

On that note, I must reiterate how grateful I am for my readers...YOU!!! It started as a boring Saturday afternoon. It has become one of my rocks in the ocean of life and that is because of you.

In Gratitude,
Hannah!