You might find me taking a hike next to a waterfall, curing the public of a disease outbreak, or flying to different countries with dear friends. Or at least those would be my ideal vacation, job, and leisure activity. For now I am a suburban girl, last living outside of a major metropolitan city, NY. However this was not always the case. I grew up in South Africa. Though I was lucky enough not to be in the majority of the poverty-stricken population, I was exposed to those harsh realities daily. Today I realize just how privileged my upbringing in First World suburbia has been within a global context. I am grateful for a family that has grounded me and instilled an awareness and respect for diverse cultures, cuisines and perspectives.
In saying that I regard myself as an open-minded person, however, I realize that I did not take into account that disabilities have not personally affected me. When we as a class started our discussion I found myself siding with the general population’s narrow views of disability. From reading Susan Wendell’s essay “The Social Construction of Disability.” noted that I did regard the disabled as a charity case. I thought that since they have unfortunately incurred this disability they have to overcome it themselves. Wendell accredits this to a natural human enjoyment; we love to see people over come obstacles like superheroes. Even though that may be natural I have begun to become conscious of my past understanding, and now want to take steps to create societal improvements, because like Wendell says these changes are essential like basic education. I look forward to expanding my knowledge about disabilities and how to improve our world’s take on these people.
Even though this class does not exactly relate to some of my intended fields of study in the natural sciences, it does connect to a basic want to serve humanity, where my academic interests do lay. In the future I could go many directions but all are centered around science. I could major in environmental studies with or without a concentration in global health, biology, veterinarian science, or even explore the human medical field. Giving back to a world that has given us opportunities not matter how small seems necessary and right as a career, so I hope to invest time in English 101- This Disabled American Life to start to give back to our local Emory community.
In saying that I regard myself as an open-minded person, however, I realize that I did not take into account that disabilities have not personally affected me. When we as a class started our discussion I found myself siding with the general population’s narrow views of disability. From reading Susan Wendell’s essay “The Social Construction of Disability.” noted that I did regard the disabled as a charity case. I thought that since they have unfortunately incurred this disability they have to overcome it themselves. Wendell accredits this to a natural human enjoyment; we love to see people over come obstacles like superheroes. Even though that may be natural I have begun to become conscious of my past understanding, and now want to take steps to create societal improvements, because like Wendell says these changes are essential like basic education. I look forward to expanding my knowledge about disabilities and how to improve our world’s take on these people.
Even though this class does not exactly relate to some of my intended fields of study in the natural sciences, it does connect to a basic want to serve humanity, where my academic interests do lay. In the future I could go many directions but all are centered around science. I could major in environmental studies with or without a concentration in global health, biology, veterinarian science, or even explore the human medical field. Giving back to a world that has given us opportunities not matter how small seems necessary and right as a career, so I hope to invest time in English 101- This Disabled American Life to start to give back to our local Emory community.