My life has been a series of challenges since birth which has caused me to always have to work harder in everything I do. I was born with an anoxic brain injury, which, unlike traumatic brain injuries, comes from a lack of oxygen supplied to the brain. This will cause brain damage as the brain needs oxygen to fully function. When I was young, however, my parents had little idea of the extent of my impairment. In my early years, I was a fairly normal child but a little delayed in my learning to crawl, walk, and even to talk. My parents just assumed I was a late developer and figured I would eventually catch up with my peers.

When I started reaching the age that I should be able to count numbers and say letters of the alphabet (when I had my kindergarten assessment with the teacher and my mom), I knew very little — and by this time I should have mastered much more than I had. The hope was that I would catch up with the other kids in class after I started kindergarten. After a few months I was not showing any improvement and could not get the basics of what was being taught. My mom discussed my learning issues and needs with a neuropsychologist she knew. My issues with learning were related to the brain injury I received from the lack of oxygen during my birth. My parents were devastated and very concerned about how I would be able to learn and grow in my life. They only wanted what every other parent wants, the best for their child. They knew I had a long road ahead of me but were unsure of the steps to take to help me.

My parents decided to enroll me in a resource program at the school I attended. This program was difficult, however, and wasn’t designed to help me learn in a way that worked best for me. Actually, the resource program shouldn’t have even been in a nightmare. The resource team treated me like an animal, putting me in a cage and wheeling me to the other side of the school, passing many classrooms with open doors to lock me in a room with no windows, as my grandma looked on in tears.

My family was mortified to learn that such actions were taken on a young boy who was afraid and just wanted to go home with his grandma. After learning of the incident, Mom went to the school the next morning and had a chat with the resource department. She removed me from my elementary school resource program and began to teach me at home. She was given a lot of advice from the neuropsychologist and followed his plan, and she worked with me each night at home. She would read a sentence and have me copy her. We did this over and over until I understood the process step by step. Over time I started to read proficiently, and eventually I learned to read whole pages by myself. Later, one of my elementary teachers told my mom that the kids in class liked to be in my reading group because they liked how I read. After working with my mom for so long, I learned to read with expression, and the other kids in class liked to listen to me read.

My father was also very involved in my life. He transferred from his job to a job that was really close to my school so he could swing by and have lunch with me sometimes. He visited many schools in our area and discussed options, plans, and programs that might help me. He was able to find the right school with the right teacher who he felt had the right program for me. This was the beginning of my middle school years. My parents were so glad to find a school with the comprehensive resources and special education programs that would help me. Instead of separating me from my friends at school, I attended my resource program during one class period in the middle of the day. This allowed me to continue to go to school with my peers while getting the special individualized education program that I needed. I also had an assistant throughout the day who would make sure I understood the assignments, and assist me in the completion of them if I needed her help.

 

My high school years were hard. The workload was greater, the assignments were harder, and the help was not as it had been in my middle school years. I learned to cope with my disability and continue forward despite my impairments. I had to work 10 times harder than my peers. There were issues during those years that were difficult, and my mom would be in the counseling office and the principal’s office discussing these issues. My mom was very involved in making sure I had the resources I was entitled to. She had learned over time that if you don’t ask for what you need, the schools are not going to offer it because it would cut into their budget — even though that is what the budget was for.

I enrolled at Utah Valley University in 2012. I quickly grew to love the design of the college experience. It was much harder than high school but instead of having to absorb seven hours of material like in elementary, middle, and high school, I was able to attend class, take a break to figure out what I needed to learn, and then do my homework right away. I also enjoyed the opportunity to design my own program around my interests and abilities. UVU was an incredible learning environment for me because I was able to interact one-on-one with students and professors. I quickly learned that all of my professors cared individually about me and were willing to help mentor me in a highly individualized setting. I was able to talk with other students and learn how to get through the material. UVU was the best decision for me because the engaged-learning model of doing projects, and not just sitting through lectures, was highly beneficial for my learning style. I had many professors and fellow students that were supportive and helped me through my undergraduate degree in technology management. I grew strong bonds with fellow classmates as we all learned together.

After graduation, I continued in the accelerated MBA program at UVU. This was a busy time in my life, requiring 60+ hours a week focusing on school and homework. As always, I continued to work 10 times harder to pass my classes and earn my master’s degree. There were countless times that I questioned whether I would be capable of finishing my degree.

In college, I learned not only that I could finish my degree, but that I could also pass my classes and get the same grades as my peers. I worked harder and pushed myself to be the best that I could be. UVU gave me a chance to succeed and make my dreams a reality. I’m proud to say that I finished both my undergraduate and graduate degrees here at UVU.

To those whose situations make them believe that they can’t attend UVU, or any college, I encourage you to go for it. If I can do it, you can do it. I took a leap of faith and jumped into the unknown. If you want to know more about my story, I have written a book called No Longer a Label: Unlocking My Potential. No matter the difficulties you’ve faced, there’s a place for you at UVU.