06/02/2022
https://www.southernliving.com/culture/school/rollins-college-valedictorian-nonverbal-autism-commencement-speech?fbclid=IwAR1mLUFz39eweCXt3a6mJboFNkP6BDmrbrD4MVKF225iL6bdYsdOJjEo6dw
"Life is for service." - Mr. Rogers
Elizabeith Bonker, the non-speaking autistic valedictorian, talks about a life of service can bring meaning from the simple things. Her dream is "communication for all," to bring a voice to the non-verbal individuals.
This speech meant something to me in two ways.
1st: it made me remember a time with my dad. I was around 6 years old and we were standing in the check out line of some store, probably Walmart. The lady in front of us was being terrible to the cashier. The cashier looked sad and miserable. While the berating from the customer continued, my dad said, "just watch." When it was our turn, my dad did his usual small talk, no more no less, and the cashier continued her autonomous movements. When my dad was getting his change, he looked at her in the eye and in a very calm and sincere way said, "I hope your day gets better" and her eyes opened and thanked him and agreed with his sentiment. Her look was what I would only now describe as actually being seen, her existence was acknowledged.
As we were walking out, he asked me about what I had witnessed. He then explained to me about how we don't know what is happening in other's lives, maybe they just found out that a loved one just passed. "Just because we are having a bad day, doesn't make it okay to take it out of others."
There was another moral to his story, even small gestures can have meaning. Even if the gesture could be considered insignificant, it could change someone's day or even life. Like for instance with Bonker, the simple act of being taught how to type changed her life by "unlocking her mind from the silent cage" and giving her the ability to be heard.
2nd: Being heard is important. I have seen too many patients that felt like they were not heard. They were being listened to but not acknowledged or heard. They felt like no matter what they said, nothing would change. Their experience is their own, it's their truth. I want to make sure that the patients voice is being heard. I want to acknowledge their existence.
I never thought of these as "life is for service" just that I wanted to help others.
"God gave you a voice. Use it."
