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Personal Narrative: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

517 Words3 Pages

A goal of mine, as well as others, has always been to be utmost person that I could possibly be. I realized though, I was doing the complete opposite of that. I was born with the rare disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT), a disease that affects the nerves of my hands and legs. I used my disability as an excuse to hold myself from opportunities granted to me because of the shame I felt. As I started high school I realized that it was up to me to reach my full potential. I put aside all the self-degrading thoughts and fear that others would ridicule me. Although it made even the simplest tasks difficult, it shaped me into the person that I am today. I developed and achieved a new sense of confidence and even pride. With this newfound …show more content…

There is no doubt in my mind that I will not face any obstacle with the right mindset. Before gaining this spirit, I was exposed to the foul side of the public. I have had negativity thrown in my way over something I have no control in, and some may take these experiences and allow hatred to consume them, but it was quite the contrary with me. I believe that I have become an amiable person through the encounters of those who chose to dismiss me as odd and unacceptable in their societal norms. In recent times, we regularly hear of those being singled out through factors like race, religion, or disabilities. Being a Muslim, Arab American with disabilities I have faced all three types of discrimination that is rooted by pure animosity. Being allowed to join the community at Michigan State, my intent is to reach out to the public and spread appreciation and acceptance to diversity. Enriching the culture at Michigan State will expose others to contrasting spirits and intellect creating an environment that praises individualism rather than scold it. My disability was once a characteristic that made me meek and ashamed of who I was, I let the disease become my only characteristics, but now as cliché as it sounds, a curse turned has turned into

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