Thread:
My first college was @UMUC (nice enough people). I worked my ass off to make a good grade. I started taking courses in October, 2 months after losing my legs in August that same year. One of my arms was blown up and
My first college was @UMUC (nice enough people). I worked my ass off to make a good grade. I started taking courses in October, 2 months after losing my legs in August that same year. One of my arms was blown up and
The other was in a cast. I used an electric wheelchair with a joy stick to get to classes on base and spoke my notes and papers into my laptop. Was so excited to do something no one in my family had ever done, go to college!
After a year they moved our classes from Walter Reed to @UofMaryland college park. I did therapy 7am-9am at Bethesda, drove to The Hill to work at @HouseVetAffairs and then over to class 6pm-10pm 3 day’s a week.. I wanted it!
This was all within 12-18 months of losing my legs. I was raised poor and my only trained profession (bomb tech) wasn’t a feasible option anymore. I had to become something productive again...
I started walking on prosthetic legs in feb 2011 (6 months after injury) and working on the Hill in June 2011 (10-1/2 months after injury) finishing college was the next big goal. So, one day we were assigned in speech class do bring a physical props and give a speech on-
-“something we were passionate about and that changed our lives.” I knew I had to do prosthetics. My legs were cumbersome, stressful and painful but they gave me independence, dignity and mobility again! I was so excited.. and nervous..
Finally the night came to give our presentations. I kept my spare legs in a bag so no one would know what mine was on. When the professor called my name... show time! I was a natural! It felt so amazing commanding the audience and sharing this very vulnerable part of my life
When I was done they (mostly) applauded and some had questions. Next up was a young lady who’d been relatively quiet during most of the semester. She brought. Trifold like a kids science project. She unfolded it and... pictures of Kim, Khloé and Kourtney. (jaw drop)
She started talking about how much the Kardashian’s meant to her, how they’d changed her life... I could take another minute if it’s I politely packed my stuff, stood up and left the class. I never returned to that class or that school again. I took the summer off and enrolled
At @Georgetown the next fall. I don’t know that there’s a moral to this story, but I do know if you’re tweeting about the Kardashian’s we’re not meant to be in the same twitter feed. 👍🏻🇺🇸
