- Joined
- Oct 2, 2008
- Messages
- 4,354
That?s a very good question. Because of my job, I have met many well-known people and professionals in their field and it?s hard to pick just one. I met softball Olympian Jennie Finch and she is such a sweet, wonderful and talented person who continues to give back to the world, especially youth and young girls, every day. She?s an inspiration. The same for Olympian Apolo Ohno. He is soft-spoken, kind and a truly inspiring. He is very passionate and dedicated and proves that hard work and determination really pay off. One reason he got into skating at a young age was that he was raised by his single father who wanted him to be involved in positive hobbies. I was also able to meet my writing mentor (he?s now my Facebook friend haha) and we communicate regularly. I looked up to him since I was about 11 or 12 years old so that was a special connection and he still continues to teach me a lot today.
I have many stories of many people but the one who has had the most memorable impact on me is a little girl named Adalia Rose who has progeria. Progeria is a rare genetic disorder that creates symptoms of rapid aging, which begins at a very young age. There is no cure and no treatment has proven very effective, although medical science has found some ways to slow the progression of the condition. Unfortunately, very few people with progeria live past 12-13 years old. But Adalia doesn?t let it slow her down. She is active and spunky and has a great outlook on life (despite the fact that hers will probably be very short). She is a huge advocate for awareness of progeria, posting photos and videos of herself online (with help of her family), attending events and doing fundraising, in spite of the fact that people tease and bully her over her looks. She?s important to me because here is someone that many would have marked for death and she is out there making a difference, making the most of every day she has and leaving the world a better place than it was before her- ALL while dealing with the daily struggles of having a fatal condition. If she can do all of that in her young life, then why can?t I make a difference to those I come in contact with? She makes me want to be a better person every day and she also reminds me how fragile life really is and that any day it could all be taken away from us and would any of those little petty things really matter?
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Choose your next words wisely...
At the risk of being beheaded, Star Wars. However, I do like them both and some time back I actually wrote a blog post about that very topic (how people can be fans of both equally) but if I have to choose, I?m definitely more of Star Wars geek.
Here?s my daughter meeting R2:
Purple. Purple looks yummy!
