The 17th feature of #20TriumphsIn20Days is Matt, 22. A native of Wabash, he enjoys time at home with his “pet” pigs Oreo, Sprinkles, Rusty & Fudge. Sure- he understands they’re part of a working farm- but Matt likes that “they’re smart in their own way.”
He can relate. Thread👇
He can relate. Thread👇
Matt grew up in Wabash like most kids. Social, while introspective, he enjoyed most of his classes and felt the same as everyone else. After school he enjoyed watching nearly every sport- @IUHoosiers @Colts, the @Yankees & @FloridaGators have become his favorites- but when he
came of age to participate, something just didn’t fit. Like the pigs he helped raise, there were things he was good at, but it just didn’t seem to mesh with the work by the rest of the barn. Perhaps his diagnosis of Autism was an explanation, but Matt found more joy in being
“behind the scenes” than he did in participation. Certainly no shame in that. He signed up to become the manager of the basketball team and found great fulfillment. Except the results, of course. “We lost a lot of games. We didn’t win very often”, he tells me. “But in the end, we
were okay.”
That’s the thing about Matt I admire. He finds his own victories within the grand challenges. Makes each game his own- and finds his own goals to set & accomplish. You know- smart in his own way.
Which was why his graduation from Northfield High School presented a
That’s the thing about Matt I admire. He finds his own victories within the grand challenges. Makes each game his own- and finds his own goals to set & accomplish. You know- smart in his own way.
Which was why his graduation from Northfield High School presented a
dichotomy. Sure, he was happy to accomplish a goal- but Matt sets is own challenges. He wanted more- had his sights on more personal growth.
He heard about @ErskineGreen - the training institute for the empowerment of people with disabilities- and enrolled in 2019.
The 13 week
He heard about @ErskineGreen - the training institute for the empowerment of people with disabilities- and enrolled in 2019.
The 13 week
Muncie based program was Matt’s first time away from home. “I liked it, though, because everyone was friendly and the staff made it clear they cared.”
After completing the program- one in which Matt found increased self confidence- he was placed at a job with a Wabash Electrical
After completing the program- one in which Matt found increased self confidence- he was placed at a job with a Wabash Electrical
company. His primary role is in conducting inventory, but he also helps in aligning and preparing gear for his co-workers. The “behind the scenes guy.” He tells me it’s satisfying work.
As we are talking, I can tell Matt is a pleasant man of few words. There’s nothing wrong
As we are talking, I can tell Matt is a pleasant man of few words. There’s nothing wrong
with that. Expression comes myriad of ways, and, for Matt, his expressions of his growing inner peace does not need to be exhibited by words. The satisfaction. The fulfillment.
That’s enough for Matt. We should all be so lucky to be so smart in our own way.
As we conclude our
That’s enough for Matt. We should all be so lucky to be so smart in our own way.
As we conclude our
chat, I ask Matt if there is
anything else he’d like me to share. He gives his most loquacious response of the conversation.
“Just be yourself, and things will get taken care of.”
Smart in his own way, is Matt. Winning a lot of games.
anything else he’d like me to share. He gives his most loquacious response of the conversation.
“Just be yourself, and things will get taken care of.”
Smart in his own way, is Matt. Winning a lot of games.
Matt’s independence was found laregely due to his training at @ErskineGreen . If you’d like to learn more about their work, or would like to help others like Matt, you may do so here:
erskinegreeninstitute.org
erskinegreeninstitute.org
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