Fall is around the corner

By Steven Greene Times Contributor

As we come to the close of a great summer, it’s time to get ready for the early mornings of packing binders, notebooks, lunches, agendas and other school supplies. I remember when I was going to school, I could barely fit into the normal sized desks due to my wheelchair being too big. So instead, I used a table with an adjustable height. That way, I could set the table to whatever angle was easier for me to do my work.
Speaking of school work, I remember first-hand what it was like to have troubles learning different topics because it was hard for me to understand certain subjects. My advice to students is not to be afraid to speak up if you need advice or help with something because like the saying goes, “you never know if you don’t ask.”
I remember in one of my previous schools, in order for me to go up and down stairs, I had to use an electric lift to help me because it would have been impossible to use the stairs in my wheelchair; and I also wouldn’t have been able to rely on anyone to help me because otherwise I would have been late for class. By the time I started junior high school, I used an elevator which made going to class a lot easier and I was able to get to class on time. But in saying that, I never had much problems getting to class on time, so it was fairly easy for me to get from point A to B.
If there’s one thing that I learned in school (aside from the topics being taught in class) is that the friends that you make today, especially in this day and age, may not be the friends you have in 10 years or even five year from now, because not everyone is who they say they are and I know from my experience people tend to change.
Now, I’m not saying that friendships aren’t important. As far as I’m concerned, it’s very important to have that one friend that will have your back and be there for you when times get rough. As far as bullying goes, which is something I strongly feel that parents and teachers should take seriously in all schools, I know what it’s like to be the victim of a bully and believe me, it’s never an easy thing to go through.
My advice to parents is to talk to your kids and their teacher and let them know that it’s okay to speak up; they don’t have to be afraid to stand up for themselves because a little help can always go a long way. I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of this column, see you next time for Part 2.