this is actually my first published work.
i must say that 80 percent of the article has been heavily edited. but given it’s my first time, excusable lar…
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date: december 20, 2005; tuesday
published in: theSun / Sun2Surf
url: getting around town
Getting around town
Cheryl Mohan
How do you go about choosing a university to enrol in?
You would probably figure out your area of interest, look at your budget and find a university that meets your requirements. Right?
Well, things are kinda different for me.
Ever since primary school, choosing my place of study has always been a challenge. Not that I had a criminal record or anything; it was simply a problem of mobility and convenience.
You see, I was born with cerebral palsy. It has affected my body coordination and motor skills – I rely on a walker to move around – and of course, to a certain extent, I am dependent on those around me.
Besides this little physical hiccup, I’m pretty much like any other girl. I’ve enjoyed every moment of my 21 years and I look forward to the years to come.
All of life’s ups and downs, the smiles and tears, joys and challenges have only made me a stronger and more daring person.
Back to my problem with deciding where to study.
Of course, the preferred choice of study and money is an issue; but there’s also the need for the institutions’ facilities being disabled-friendly. Sad to say, in Malaysia, this has always been a hindrance for me and many others like me.
When I was in school, toilets were the bane of my life. The doors were too narrow, there were no sitting-toilets and it was dirty and rather slippery. Thank goodness the school authorities were sympathetic enough to allow me to use the teachers’ toilet. It. at least, was wide, clean, dry, well-lit and came equipped with a sitting-toilet.
Stairs are also a nuisance. Since I’m able to slowly climb them I don’t really mind so long as it has a railing. But I do admit that stairs are a pain.
In Standard One, I informed my teacher with great determination that I would someday be a policewoman. By the time I was 10, it dawned on me that this was a little unrealistic as I needed both hands to use my walker and well, how would I hold a gun?
That was when I began to realise that I didn’t have the freedom to choose a career just because I liked it. It would have to be something convenient for me, but still pay enough.
Well I could sulk about it, or make the best of what was available to me.
By trial and error I explored my options. Thankfully, I found something I was passionate about that I could make my career – writing. So, I took up a degree in communications at Monash University, and I’m now in my final year.
Getting around Monash U isn’t that much of a problem. Sure it lacks state-of-the-art facilities for the disabled, but it has the necessary basics like ramps, lifts and toilets for the handicapped. All these ease the burden and help make life easier. Hey, if you look around there are a few other students in wheelchairs and they get around just fine.
The truth is, I soon had another worry. I’ve never really had much problem mingling and making friends, but university life was a whole new scary phase. How would the people look at me? Would I be accepted? Would I be able to get along with my lecturers and friends? How am I going to cope with the workload and assignments? Would I be able to do my research and fulfil the university requirements? All these questions spun round my mind and the fear kept me awake ‘o’ nights.
And it was difficult. For the first two months, I found it rather hard to break the ice. University life is certainly different. It’s not like high school where you are with your classmates for practically the entire day.
Everyone has their own little sphere in which they move. Some you see more frequently than others, some you only see from afar. Others you bumped into occasionally, or almost never.
But finally, the ice melted and things changed for the better. I managed to click with many of my peers and I found that my disability was and has never been an issue around them. They have never grown tired of offering help. Occasionally even strangers would tell me, “please, let me help you with your school bag.”
The lecturers here are wonderful – they’re just a call or SMS away and are ever willing to help out.
For people like these, I am grateful and thank God for them.
University life has taught me to be mature and independent. Independent not only as a means of survival, but also independent in the way I think. I’ve learnt that what matters most is how I look at myself, and not what others think of me.
I now view life as a series of challenges. Each challenge can either break me or build me – depending on my choice. For me, giving up will never be an option.
My life will be beautiful, because I choose to make it so.
What Cheryl’s Buddies have to say
Name: Yap Jin Yao, 20
(Course & Campus: B.Comm at Monash University)
He says: I’m her beast of burden, ‘cos I’m the strongest! Course la… I’m the only guy what.
Name: Debbie Ng, 20
(Course & Campus: B.Comm at Monash University)
She says: Hanging out with her in class is great – she trips the lecturers up with her walker! *evil grin*.
Name: Goh Kel Li, 20
(Course & Campus: B.Comm at Monash University)
She says: I swear she’s made us all her slaves. Like she hires me as her jockey – to park her walker; and she never tips!
Name: Carrie Low, 20
(Course & Campus: B.Comm at Monash University)
She says: Official lift holder and lift evacuation officer reporting for duty sah!
