“Once you label me, you negate me.” Kierkegard Preface December 1988 I looked out the large airport window at LaGuardia in New York City. It was early afternoon, but the sky looked…
My name is Angelica* and I am sixteen years old. I’m unique. Everyone knows it. I mean, honestly, how many teenage girls do you know who play ice hockey, do youth group, act…
I came to the U.S. as a student in 2011. In the departure orientation at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan, we were told to be prepared for a cultural shock and…
Preface March 1976 I was in the last few months of my 1st grade school year at Yankee Ridge Elementary in Urbana, Illinois. It wasn’t an ordinary Spring, however, because all the teachers…
There is an expression, “Age is but a number.” Well yes, that is true. However, by that logic birthdays are but numbers, time is but a number, years are but a number, even…
Preface November 2001 “I can’t decide if we should take the CVS test or not….” My husband John and I were in my obstetrician’s office, and it had been barely six weeks since…
I am thirteen but I been really tall my whole life. I never cared about it though; I was me and I was fine with that. Around fifth grade, I realized I was…
It seems that over the past 6 or 7 years there has been an increase of children with Trisomy 21, Down Syndrome, winning pageants, scoring touchdowns and being elected prom king/queen. My oldest…
Preface October 31, 1977 I was thrilled! My favorite holiday had finally arrived. That morning, as my elementary school class and I lined up for our school’s annual Halloween parade, my closest…
Since I arrived to the U.S., I have learned a lot of things about cultural differences. I came with sadness and when I say that, I mean real sadness. I arrived here without…
Preface September 27 2013 “Come in, Mr. and Mrs. Zucker!” It was Savanna’s first grade teacher and we had come to read to the class in honor of Savanna’s seventh birthday. Although I…
Preface March 1992 Despite the fact that the sun had just set, it was extremely hot, and we were exhausted. The flight from New York to Montego Bay, Jamaica, was overall smooth. However,…
“One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.” Michael J. Fox Lucky Man Preface July 1985 I slumped back munching…