How I Became a Star

Rylee Knips 9/29/13

Builds and character used to be my least favorite words in the world. They were used on numerous occasions by my parents to ensure that I do my chores, walk to school, and help out our community. Being a narcissistic little brat of a middle schooler, I cared more about whether Abbie still liked CJ and the outcome of The Bachelor. The world and other celestial bodies revolved around me. Yet high school hit me like an asteroid. And although it didnt destro y me, it had the power to jar me from my state of mind. After the first week of school, I wrote my diary a letter vowing to change for the better. I signed the letter I promise, and have upheld that promise with integrity, a feat that would have remained unaccomplished if I had not ventured into an unknown galaxy by trying to fulfill my parents character building requirements: Links Club. I walked into C112 afraid of my decision to enter. All I knew about the club was what I learned from the short description displayed on the blue flyers around school. Unrecognizable eyes shifted towards me as I crept through the double doors and snuck into a seat next to an unfamiliar face. Uncertainty evaporated as the president of the club began to speak. She explained how Links Club aimed at creating friendships with other high school students that may or may not have cognitive impairments by meeting twice a month for fun-filled festivities. I was sucked into the clubs gravitational pull and became part of the planets floating around in its orbit. This club replaced the self-attention that had plagued me during middle school years with an understanding that links are stronger when they are together.

Good grades followed me through school. Junior year invited me to join the National Honors Society, and I dedicated days to the application essay about my transformation of character from middle school to high school. I rejoiced after receiving my acception letter, and then I paused and reflected. How powerful could I be if I began to transfer that dedication to the kids around me? What console are grades if I cannot connect to others and show them my worth? What good are great ideas if they never escape my tongue? I began to voice my opinions to the Links leadership team, and by the end of junior year, I was planning entire events. I was fueled by the respect I received from fellow students for attaching myself to the club, and decided to apply for the co-presidential position. I put as much rigor into that application as I had for the National Honors Society, but this time, it wasnt my essay that earned me the leading position. It was the devoted time and consistent hard work that grappled me in. Senior year allowed me to explode like a supernova. We were able to create stronger connections between club members by expanding Links Club domain to include out-ofschool events. Our kick off at Lakeville Family Bowl was a major success and allowed the students to mingle comfortably over competition. By the time our trip to Skateville rolled around, everyone was enthusiastic about getting together and willing to sing and dance as they tested out wheels on hard wood floor. I couldnt be more proud of the smoothness with which we slid through the year together. There were no bumps along the roller rink, only ways to expand it. Expansion allowed me to help coach adapted softball and tutor math inside the classroom. I jumped at the chance to broaden my horizons and meet a new group of kids. The kids had always given me a great feeling of passion, but this new group gave me inspiration

as well. The sportsmanship bewildered me. Encouraging words, gestures, and cheers from both teams convinced everyone that they were the stars. I watched them sparkle and gleam in positivity. Most of them have cognitive abilities below grade school level, yet they understand more than I did in eighth grade. They understand that we are all our own planets. We all come in different sizes and have different climates. And they understand that when we come together, we are more than just a group held together by gravity, we make the universe. After exposure to this way of thinking, I realize how much simpler life would be if we worked together, and encouraged others, and brought positivity into the world. These kids transformed me from a stuck-up brat to a star that shined brighter when it was down to earth. They taught me how everyone can contribute to the world. They taught me that no, you cant help everyone, but everyone can help someone. They changed me for the better and made me who I am. They taught me the character in a way that my parents never could. I only hope that I am able to transfer their affect on me to UMD. Maybe then we can make this university a universeity.