Mud & Stars

Throughout the school year we honor those students who have excelled in their academic classes and have made National Technical Honor Society, Blue Chippers or the all "A" Honor roll. We also take the time to focus on our students who have done a terrific job at a SkillsUSA contest, or a BPA contest or FCCLA. I will be the first to tell you that I am so glad that we do. I believe that these students have worked hard and shown that their skills are above and beyond the other students. They certainly deserve the recognition.

However, today I would like to recognize someone that I really look up to and who has been more of an inspiration to me than any other student I can recall in my years as a school counselor. I am talking about Charles Walker, a senior in the Culinary Arts program. Charles was born with Spina Bifida almost twenty years ago. For those of you not familiar with Spina Bifida, it is a birth defect in which a developing baby's spinal cord fails to develop properly. Now I am not a doctor or a specialist on Spina Bifida, but there is an excellent resource if you would like to learn more. Just go to to the following website: www.spinabifidaassociation.org

The reason Charles has been such an inspiration to me is because of his brilliant outlook on life. Every morning, Charles has to come in to the student services area to call down to Mrs. Farr's room and check in with her. It is during this time that I have come to know Charles and find out a lot more about him. I can honestly say that there isn't a morning where I am not greeted with that big bright smile of his. He is always laughing, joking around or having a kind word to say to me or Mrs. Hatcher. Oh sure he likes to give Mrs. Hatcher a hard time about the 49ers or the Buckeyes (Charles is a die hard Michigan fan) but it is always in a fun, laughable way. Every morning I ask Charles how it's going and every time he will say, "just great" or "no complaints" or something to that effect. Today it was -25 degrees with the wind chill and Charles came in smiling and just being his self. I asked him how he likes the cold weather and he just smiles and says "well we got a two hour delay out of it."

What I hope all of you students realize and myself also, is that we tend to complain about a lot of little things in life that irritate us. I can't tell you how many staff and students complained about the cold weather this morning and how they can't stand it any more. I can't help think that here is Charles sitting in a cold wheelchair, not being able to move his legs to get warm and having to be put on a cold bus and yet he is smiling and acting like it is just a normal day. No complaints. I think if we all look at our situation and realize that it could be a lot worse, we just might change our own attitudes.

I talked to Charles' mother this morning to ask if I could write my blog about him and to tell her what a joy he is to have around school. Just from talking with her for a few moments, I can see where Charles gets his attitude. His mother told me that she has always raised Charles like that. She has always told him not to feel sorry for himself because life can always be a lot worse. What a great testimony.

Charles will be graduating this year from the Culinary Arts program. I wish that he was going to be around another year but I guess that is just selfish on my part. However, I am grateful that I had the chance to meet him and that he changed my life. I know he will be successful wherever he goes and whatever he does. He is strong willed and determined. If I can give some advice to all of you here at Vantage, please don't let Charles graduate without stopping and talking with him. I don't care if it is only for a few moments, your life will be better. Charles will not mind. In fact Charles loves to talk, sometimes he will go on and on. He mentioned today that he could tell his story to the whole student body because he loves people and loves talking with them. Maybe you don't feel comfortable or don't know what to say to him. You can start out by introducing yourself and maybe tell him you read the blog. He will continue the conversation with his usual smile and maybe even a "Go Blue" but I am telling you, it will change you and possibly your outlook on life.

In closing, I would like to repeat an old saying I once heard and can't even remember who to give credit to but it went like this: "Two men were behind bars, one looked out and saw mud and one looked out and saw stars." Charles is our "star gazer". Thanks CW, for just being you.