Colton edited his personal statement for a college essay contest for a potential scholarship! Votes are greatly appreciated! Thanks!!
http://www.wyzant.com/scholarships/v2/essay14489-Hendersonville-TN.aspx
Katie, Colton, Conner & Jeff
My soul mate, Jeff, and Katie, Colton and Conner, the three gifts from God that call me "Mom"
Saturday, October 29, 2011
A "Light Bulb" Moment
As a teacher, I always enjoy witnessing "light bulb" moments! You know--those moments when after timeless explanations or teachings, the light bulb finally comes on! You see it in a student's face! The light comes on it their eyes! You realize they finally "get it"!
As an adult, I've always been a little sad that those types of moments come very rarely. As we mature, so much of life has been experienced. We settle into a routine, and even a rut. Our thinking sometimes seems to narrow, and we simply daily live the "teaching old dogs new tricks" cliche.
In this blog, I write much about my children. They are my life, and have been for the past twenty one years. As I see our roles changing more as they are now growing into young adulthood, I am beginning to learn much from them. I find that very refreshing and renewing!
I have been noticeably absent from my blog for the past several weeks, and much of that has been because of spending time with Colton, my high school senior. College visits, baseball tryouts, football games, and long talks. I am relishing every moment of this time because I know that it is slowly changing, and our relationship is changing as well.
A few weeks ago, he asked me to type out his "personal statement" needed for an English class. I was not familiar with what a personal statement even was. (I am reminded also daily that I am old. I took the ACT test one time. I sent one college application in. I went to that one college, and so on!) Colton explained to me that colleges and universities today want a sense of "who" the student is. What his goals are? What life events have shaped him into the person he has become today? Colton's English teacher was helping the class formulate these to accompany their college resumes and applications.
As I began typing the page for him, a proverbial "light bulb" began to flicker in my mind. The words being formed from the letters I hit on the keyboard answered questions long unanswered in my own mind. Questions that I didn't think could be answered in this life. Questions that I was too timid to ask. Feelings of anger at God that I would not voice.
The words Colton had written dealt with his feelings for Katie. His feelings of sadness over a little girl's disability. His feelings of anger, early on, at a God that would let this happen to a child. His feelings of guilt--wondering if her disability was his fault. All of these feelings had never been mentioned to me--his mother--during his lifetime. He had kept the feelings inside, and eventually answered them himself. The feelings, and the love he has had for Katie, have molded him into the young man he has become at age seventeen.
My "light bulb" moment came at the realization that we may have been given the gift of a special needs child simply because of the extremely vital way Katie has molded Colton. She has given him a sense of compassion and understanding that most teenage boys do not have. She has given him a sense of unconditional love that he would not have known had he not had her for a sister. She has molded him and influenced him more than any other person on this earth.
Katie has always touched anyone with whom she came in contact. But not in this way. Not in the sense that she has with Colton.
In the past few weeks since that time, the "light bulb" has grown brighter. Colton has spoken in school devotional about Katie. He has written a college essay about her. He has openly talked about how important she is in his life, and how he would not change anything about her--even if he could. He has called her "his Katie," and as a mother, it blesses my heart.
So, all the "what ifs" and "if onlys" I have had in the corners of my mind all these years are gone now. The light is on, and I am understanding some things I thought I might never in this life. God's "big picture" has involved more than my just wanting or needing a healthy daughter. A normal daughter. A cheerleader or beauty queen daughter. God's big plan has involved sending a little girl to our family that would shape, mold and develop the character of her brother.
Here is Colton's personal statement:
My earliest memories involve my older sister, Katie. Four years my senior, Katie
never was the typical big sister. Katie was born with cerebral palsy and mental
retardation. In my early years, we reached developmental milestones together. We
learned to crawl together—me on my knees and Katie on her bottom. We learned to
walk together—me on my legs and Katie on her walker. Katie has never learned to talk,
but my mother says I talk enough for both of us.
Growing up in a house with an individual with special needs is not a “normal”
childhood. The majority of our lives revolved around whatever Katie could do;
whatever Katie would not tolerate; whatever we could manage as a family. As a child,
I was confused by Katie. I used to be embarrassed when people stared at her. I recoiled
if she had an outburst in public. I used to wonder why God let this happen to her.
Was it the result of something she had done? Was it the result of something my parents
had done? Was it my fault?
As I got older, I began to see a strength in Katie that no one else had. She had severe
challenges that might make most people bitter or resentful. But not Katie. She had a
determination to walk even though doctors said she would not. She wore the painful
braces needed to straighten her little legs, and she smiled through the pain. She didn’t
seem to mind if people stared at her or made fun of her funny noises. I got in more than
one fight defending my sister to my peers who had no idea how their mean comments cut
me to my core.
One of Katie’s favorite pastimes has always been watching me play baseball. Playing
baseball has been my passion all of my life, and I’ve played it a lot. Katie has always
been my biggest fan! She would sit in the hot sunshine all day watching me. She would
laugh and smile when I would hit the ball. She would watch quietly when I was on the
mound. She traveled with my family to watch me play ball throughout the country. In
her own way, I knew she was proud of me, and I loved playing for her. I still do today.
Throughout the years, I have come to realize that Katie has strengthened me in many
ways. She has taught me patience and compassion. She has taught me unconditional
love regardless of circumstance. She has strengthened my faith in God because I know
one day He will make her perfect for all eternity.
I feel blessed to have Katie Sweet as my big sister. I would like to attend your
university to further my dream of playing baseball at the college level and pursuing a
degree in Sports Management or Sports Broadcasting. I have Katie’s
determination to reach my own goals, and hard work does not intimidate me. I believe
what sets me apart from other applicants is that I know what I want to do—and I’m not
afraid of the hard work and sacrifice it may take. I’ve had a life-long example of
overcoming challenges through hard work and determination in my sister, Katie! Now
it’s time for her brother to follow that example, and I’m eager to begin this new chapter
in my life!
Why did I ever question it? Thank God for "light bulb" moments--even for old dogs!
As an adult, I've always been a little sad that those types of moments come very rarely. As we mature, so much of life has been experienced. We settle into a routine, and even a rut. Our thinking sometimes seems to narrow, and we simply daily live the "teaching old dogs new tricks" cliche.
In this blog, I write much about my children. They are my life, and have been for the past twenty one years. As I see our roles changing more as they are now growing into young adulthood, I am beginning to learn much from them. I find that very refreshing and renewing!
I have been noticeably absent from my blog for the past several weeks, and much of that has been because of spending time with Colton, my high school senior. College visits, baseball tryouts, football games, and long talks. I am relishing every moment of this time because I know that it is slowly changing, and our relationship is changing as well.
A few weeks ago, he asked me to type out his "personal statement" needed for an English class. I was not familiar with what a personal statement even was. (I am reminded also daily that I am old. I took the ACT test one time. I sent one college application in. I went to that one college, and so on!) Colton explained to me that colleges and universities today want a sense of "who" the student is. What his goals are? What life events have shaped him into the person he has become today? Colton's English teacher was helping the class formulate these to accompany their college resumes and applications.
As I began typing the page for him, a proverbial "light bulb" began to flicker in my mind. The words being formed from the letters I hit on the keyboard answered questions long unanswered in my own mind. Questions that I didn't think could be answered in this life. Questions that I was too timid to ask. Feelings of anger at God that I would not voice.
The words Colton had written dealt with his feelings for Katie. His feelings of sadness over a little girl's disability. His feelings of anger, early on, at a God that would let this happen to a child. His feelings of guilt--wondering if her disability was his fault. All of these feelings had never been mentioned to me--his mother--during his lifetime. He had kept the feelings inside, and eventually answered them himself. The feelings, and the love he has had for Katie, have molded him into the young man he has become at age seventeen.
My "light bulb" moment came at the realization that we may have been given the gift of a special needs child simply because of the extremely vital way Katie has molded Colton. She has given him a sense of compassion and understanding that most teenage boys do not have. She has given him a sense of unconditional love that he would not have known had he not had her for a sister. She has molded him and influenced him more than any other person on this earth.
Katie has always touched anyone with whom she came in contact. But not in this way. Not in the sense that she has with Colton.
In the past few weeks since that time, the "light bulb" has grown brighter. Colton has spoken in school devotional about Katie. He has written a college essay about her. He has openly talked about how important she is in his life, and how he would not change anything about her--even if he could. He has called her "his Katie," and as a mother, it blesses my heart.
So, all the "what ifs" and "if onlys" I have had in the corners of my mind all these years are gone now. The light is on, and I am understanding some things I thought I might never in this life. God's "big picture" has involved more than my just wanting or needing a healthy daughter. A normal daughter. A cheerleader or beauty queen daughter. God's big plan has involved sending a little girl to our family that would shape, mold and develop the character of her brother.
Here is Colton's personal statement:
My earliest memories involve my older sister, Katie. Four years my senior, Katie
never was the typical big sister. Katie was born with cerebral palsy and mental
retardation. In my early years, we reached developmental milestones together. We
learned to crawl together—me on my knees and Katie on her bottom. We learned to
walk together—me on my legs and Katie on her walker. Katie has never learned to talk,
but my mother says I talk enough for both of us.
Growing up in a house with an individual with special needs is not a “normal”
childhood. The majority of our lives revolved around whatever Katie could do;
whatever Katie would not tolerate; whatever we could manage as a family. As a child,
I was confused by Katie. I used to be embarrassed when people stared at her. I recoiled
if she had an outburst in public. I used to wonder why God let this happen to her.
Was it the result of something she had done? Was it the result of something my parents
had done? Was it my fault?
As I got older, I began to see a strength in Katie that no one else had. She had severe
challenges that might make most people bitter or resentful. But not Katie. She had a
determination to walk even though doctors said she would not. She wore the painful
braces needed to straighten her little legs, and she smiled through the pain. She didn’t
seem to mind if people stared at her or made fun of her funny noises. I got in more than
one fight defending my sister to my peers who had no idea how their mean comments cut
me to my core.
One of Katie’s favorite pastimes has always been watching me play baseball. Playing
baseball has been my passion all of my life, and I’ve played it a lot. Katie has always
been my biggest fan! She would sit in the hot sunshine all day watching me. She would
laugh and smile when I would hit the ball. She would watch quietly when I was on the
mound. She traveled with my family to watch me play ball throughout the country. In
her own way, I knew she was proud of me, and I loved playing for her. I still do today.
Throughout the years, I have come to realize that Katie has strengthened me in many
ways. She has taught me patience and compassion. She has taught me unconditional
love regardless of circumstance. She has strengthened my faith in God because I know
one day He will make her perfect for all eternity.
I feel blessed to have Katie Sweet as my big sister. I would like to attend your
university to further my dream of playing baseball at the college level and pursuing a
degree in Sports Management or Sports Broadcasting. I have Katie’s
determination to reach my own goals, and hard work does not intimidate me. I believe
what sets me apart from other applicants is that I know what I want to do—and I’m not
afraid of the hard work and sacrifice it may take. I’ve had a life-long example of
overcoming challenges through hard work and determination in my sister, Katie! Now
it’s time for her brother to follow that example, and I’m eager to begin this new chapter
in my life!
Why did I ever question it? Thank God for "light bulb" moments--even for old dogs!
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