“It’s crazy how the scariest moments can turn into the best memories. One of those experiences happened for me when my mom and I stopped for gas on the way to school and I decided to get something from the little convenience store. So, while my mom pumped the gas, I put my wheelchair on the ground and, just as I went to pull myself out of the car, my chair started rolling away down the hill toward Route 5. I was terrified someone would run it over, but it’s not like I could run after it. I will never forget the look on my mom’s face when she saw what was happening. I can’t help but laugh when I remember that moment.
My life is full of wonderful, funny memories that came from days that seemed scary at the time. I have spent most of my life in the Upper Valley, but I didn’t know Vermont would be my permanent home when I arrived. I was born in Mali and lived in the United States for a few years before I moved to the Upper Valley. So, I was significantly older than the kids in my grade because of the years spent learning English and adjusting to the American education system. This would have been enough to make me worry about making friends in my new community, but because I caught polio as a child, and as a result had to use a wheelchair, I was especially nervous.
I’m an athletic guy. I attended the University of Illinois on a sports scholarship for wheelchair basketball. When I first started school, I decided that I should try to use my outgoing personality and love of sports to find friends. I ended up on the football team and, even though I couldn’t actually play on the field, I was stronger than most of my teammates and would outperform them when we went to the gym to do strength training. I became really close with my team, but I also found myself forming strong bonds with my teachers.
My English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher really helped me grow as a student and as an English-speaker. My history teacher, Mr. Potter, would take the time to explain material to me in ways that I could understand, so that I would be able to keep up with my classmates. I felt so supported by the students and faculty when I moved to Vermont. Today, I am so happy that my daughters are in the school system I loved and that I get to see my old teachers when I go to school events. ” – Souleymane Marzouk, Wilder, VT
