Personal Narrative Essay

Words: 1035
Pages: 5

Dalena Nguyen
English Comp. I: Prof. Keith

I had foolishly believed that the cliché “Life can change in an instant” was an irrelevant saying that had probably emerged from a Dr. Seuss book; never did I expect myself to enter into the world of Stephen Hawking and F.D. Roosevelt. To walk in one hour then sit in a wheelchair the next hour was both a humbling and epiphanic road that I had unintentionally traveled.
That fateful day occurred on a frosty January evening during my sophomore year in high school. Like any 15-year old teen, I was determined to spend time with friends on a Friday night after a long week of hectic classes. My friends, Marc, Calvin, Kim, Helen, and I had unanimously agreed to go ice skating at the arena behind our school.
…show more content…
The most glaring and frequent occurrence was when I was getting special treatment; that is, people treating me noticeably kinder way because I was in a wheelchair. Indeed, it was nice for people to hold doors for me, but the tone of many others' voices screamed sympathy, similar to how a nanny would speak to an infant. For instance, at a Target, I was in my wheelchair and was perusing the vast selection of toothpaste. A fellow customer saw me reach for a Crest-brand toothpaste, took it, then passed it to me with the condescending remark, “Here you go, little girl.” Although his action may have seemed thoughtful, and he may have meant it to be, the toothpaste was just seven inches above my head, so I could have easily gotten it myself. What disturbed me was his remark, because I was a 5 foot 6 inch teenager, not a 3 foot 2 inch child with pigtails. When I was able to stand on two legs and was reaching for an item in a store, I received the assistance of no one. Jesus was correct, “So in everything, do others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12); I am no different than the person behind me or than the person who is across the hemisphere. Ought every person to treat each other kindly and with respect, regardless of the extent of his or her physical