Dr. G. Yvette Pegues Disability Scholarship

I’ve tried rewriting this dozens of times trying to strip it of self-deprecating cynical humor but it’s all but ingrained in me now. I have Hereditary Spherocytosis, and you should see the faces of people when I tell them that. I try not to define myself by it, for the most part I have had a life full of amazing blessings. However, as a little girl I would often get sick, every month or so I’d be in the hospital for something that for most kids would just require a couple days of rest. My mother insisted there was something wrong, and she was absolutely right, turns out it’s in my blood. Although growing up it was also in my skin and eyes, I had extreme jaundice and the clever kids at the playground came up with great names for it. Alien eyes was my personal favorite. In a way I was an alien, I felt on the outside. My least favorite question was, are you okay? I hated how often I had to convince other people just how fine I was, my version of fine was just different from theirs. Sure I couldn’t do contact sports or any strenuous activities but I preferred reading anyways. That is the thing about children, they are mighty resilient if given the chance. There would be many other challenges my condition would cause, major surgeries and hospitalizations included, but I can honestly say I have nothing but gratitude. I’ve worked with adults with disabilities in group homes and children with autism and their parents, I’ve coordinated 504 plans for students and facilitated their meetings. I am constantly humbled and in awe of the people I serve and throughout all these experiences I’ve discovered a special power, and that is empathy. I understand what it’s like to be in their shoes because I am one of them, I see their parents and I see my own. There is so much fear wrapped up in your child being diagnosed with something you can’t save them from. It’s a part of them and it’s lifelong, there is a lot of heaviness that accompanies that realization. However, I won’t give them that face of pity that I always dreaded receiving as a child, and I won’t coddle them either because these children are warriors. They give me purpose, and I am inspired by their grit, determination, and kindness. I am proud to be one of them, and while I may never meet someone with my particular condition I am inspired by the children and families I serve. I used to hold so much shame and resentment, but I see that all the hardships I faced were for a greater purpose. I am now studying to become a School Counselor. I want to serve our future generations and help them know that they are never alone. I want to help them feel heard and valued and to find their strength within. I’d like to think that children with disabilities have a stubbornness to them, at least that is true for me. When I set my mind on something, I don’t care how much is holding me back. So I am reaching out to you because I need help. My masters program requires eight-hundred unpaid internship hours that will keep me out of a full-time job for quite some time. I appreciate this scholarship existing and the help that it offers and I would never dream of applying for it if I did not truly need the assistance. Thank you so very much for listening to my story.