Before:

 

 

When the St. Louis Science Center asked its employees recently to don Monsters! decals on the side of their cars as an aid to promotion of the event, many were reluctant to step up. Few were willing to invite the decorative robotic eyeball and red SLSC logo onto their methods of transport. Staff morale was at an all-time low and times were tough at the Science Center...but that's when everything changed.

People throw the word HERO around loosely these days. You'll often hear it in reference to a sports player, a first responder to an emergency, or a single mother struggling to make it on her own. But when I think of what a HERO is to me, I think of Lance Cutter. As Director of Community Programs, Lance Cutter knew that people need a role model. When Lance saw that people were wary of placing decals on the cars, did he ask why? No. Did he reprimand his staff for non-participation? No. He stepped up to the plate and placed not 1 or 2, but 8 decals on his brand new BMW. Now that's a HERO.

There is no one I strive to be more than Lance Cutter. Lance Cutter is a beacon of hope in a dreary world.

 

Well this is my last day to do this. I can't wait to come back during the school year. I will enjoy these experiences weather I'm tierd or not. I had fun this summer. I learned so much about myself than I would have ever learned in my entire life. I thank you for this chance to express myself and I will see you guys later!

This summer I was given the chance to participate in this camp called Camp Independence. Although I knew I was going to be working with kids that had cerebral palsy, I had no idea that this opportunity would be the most enriching and amazing experience in my life so far.

 

Cerebral Palsy is defined as a disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. So some of the kids may not be able to speak on their own, some have talkers, some don’t. Some may not be able to walk on their own or at all, some may be blind and with some of the kids you would never know they had CP.  The disability does not affect the intelligence of the campers or anyone with CP, they think and feel the same way as anyone else would.

 

Since Camp Independence is a sports rehabilitation camp for children with cerebral palsy, every day we did different sports and activities. So we would play tennis, basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, do martial arts, dance and swim! Every camper has a buddy to hang out with them for the day. I had many buddies this summer and each one taught me something new and made the summer better.

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That day was okay for me.I met alot of people. I was able to sit at the table with my sister. I met a man that did computer grahpic design,and a man that did fundraising and work for the science center. Also i met a man that was a police officer.

This is like the only pic i could find of me.