If you are interested in an opportunity to earn 5 pts. of extra credit attend the upcoming Brownbag Series on Diversity. Then add your reaction concerning the presentation to this blog post. Thank Michelle Sickles for sharing this information with our class.
Subject: Brownbag Series on Diversity
Location: LSF 170A
Start Date: 9/23/2009 12:00 PM
End Date: 9/23/2009 1:00 PM
Description:
Gerrie Grott and Sarah Smith
“My Story”
Mrs. Gerrie Grott was born with, what some would define as, a disability. Luckily, her parents did NOT listen to the advice given during their time – to send Gerrie away. They decided to keep her at home and to nurture her as who she was – their daughter.
Mrs. Grott is the keynote speaker for each incoming class of Leadership La Porte County. Her life story, her family’s courage, and her success is something that will warm your heart and encourage you to look at the world anew.
Don’t miss this one…it could change the way you look at life!
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I went to the Brownbag Series on Diversity today and it was really good. I really enjoyed Gerrie's story and she was very funny. I think that she really is an inspiration. She has beat all the odds, no one would ever have thought that she would be able to accomplish what she has.
ReplyDeleteIt was really sad when Gerrie said that she was not telling her story, but telling her parents story. Her parents had a very good attitude; Gerrie said bad attitude, bad results, but with a good attitude, good results. I think that is a very good quote because that is true. I liked that Gerrie said that word "cannot" never came out of her mouth or her parents. I think that is very good because if you do not believe in yourself that you can do something, then no one else will!
Gerrie said that in seven years she had been in eight different schools, I cannot imagine how hard that was for her. She said that she had speech thearpy and physical thearpy. Even though she had a disability, she was still exposed to normal activities. Gerrie had tennis, ballet, and swimming lessons and even learned how to ride a bike (when she was sixteen years old). I loved that Gerrie gives speeches to inspire children; she said that if she can be a leader, anyone can!
I attended the Brownbag Lunch Series on Diversity and was pleasantly surprised after hearing Gerrie speak. Gerrie, a woman in her sixties appeared to be an average senior citizen until she shared her story and average is not a word that anyone could use to describe her. After sharing her history of being born with cerebal palsy and her families triumphs of giving her a normal life after being told she would never attain one proved to be an inspiration to everyone in the room.
ReplyDeleteGerri conveyed that her success was attributed to her parents support and unconditional love and her "attitude." She spoke of attitude in a positive way with a hint of the stuborness that coincides with the word. The attitude that you can do anything regardless of your background, disabilities, and handicaps. Gerri shared her experience in walking for the first time, ballet, swimming, riding a bike for the first time, and her experiences in public speaking.
All of this from a woman who was diagnosed with a disease that did not leave any hope for her to walk, much less communicate. Gerri proved to be an inspiration from an educator's point of view in the aspect that we as teachers should never count a child out because of their seeming inability to understand what we are trying to teach them. We could one day be the person that turns that inability into a motivation that proves to be not only an ability, but a skill that will stay with them the rest of their life. We just have to find the right method to teach them and treat each and every one of our students as the individuals that they are!
Gerri has held a seat on the Laporte county school board for four terms, held the position of a librarian, gave birth to two healthy children, and has proven to be an inspiration for both young and old alike. Many people who do not have the disabilities that Gerri has are able to list the accomplishments she is able to. Her story was definitely worth my forty five minutes and much, much more!
I also attended the brownbag series Diversity. A disability can sometimes be construed as a downfall to the general public. Disabilities come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. It is also sometimes not the easiest to turn a life challenge into a positive. But for Mrs. Gerry Grott, she embraced her disability of Cerebral Palsy and overcame some of life’s most challenging obstacles. As I sat there and listened to her inspiring and courageous story, I was emotionally overtaken by her pure honesty and openness of her disability. She was surrounded by loving parents as a child and she credits them for her success as an adult and her life accomplishments. Some of her accomplishments in her life were walking when doctors said she wouldn't be able to. She was a librarian for several decades. She got married and had two beautiful girls. She had a seat on the Laporte county school board for four terms. She said her parents love, courage, and always believing in there gave her skills to push forward with her disability. They never let her feel bad for herself. They never let her say the word "can't." This definitely opened my heart and eyes to the word perseverance! When there is a will there is a way, and nothing can stop someone who has the courage to survive and thrive in this tough world. I deeply enjoyed Mrs. Grott's encouraging words and warm humor. I have every intension on applying her courageous words and story to my life, kids, and future teaching career as well!!
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