My Best Friends

As a kid, I was always super close with my cousins.

We’d play on trampolines, go on rollercoasters, and go on adventures to the beach just like any best friends would.

We’re very close in age, and they are just about my favorite people in the world – we’ve got a bond that will never go away.

The only thing that separates them from me is that they’re on the autism spectrum.

As I learned, the more you hang out with people who have disabilities, the more you realize that they have tremendous gifts.

The friendships I’ve made with disabled kids and the experiences I’ve shared are truly things I’ll never forget.

It’s part of what gives me motivation every day, and it’s something I hope I can continue to do. 

She's done it again‼️

Jenna Rogers is the #B1GTF Women's Field Athlete of the Week!

🔗 https://t.co/nuQRX76haa#GBR pic.twitter.com/CTU2Htnwny

— Nebraska Track and Field (@NUTrackandField) April 13, 2022

Making Friends

 

The thing that always stands out to me from my volunteer work is the attitude of the kids I work with.

They give you a feeling that you don’t always see in other people – they love you unconditionally, are so happy to be alive, and I just can’t get enough of being around them.

When I’m able to connect with these kids through sports, I am reminded how lucky I am to be able to be a part of collegiate athletics. 

That is my reminder that every day in this sport is a gift.

As I’ve learned, kids with disabilities are often gifted in a way that isn’t easy to immediately understand.

In my hometown of Rutherford, New Jersey, my uncle worked for a program called Special Angels that helps kids with disabilities play sports.

I started helping in sixth grade and kept going all throughout high school because I absolutely loved working with these special athletes. 

One experience that I’ll never forget was at a basketball practice I was helping with.

This little boy was getting upset and just didn’t want to participate in the activity. After a moment, I went over and just sat with him and started talking.

His dad told me he liked doing math problems, so I started with 4+2.

They both gave me a look like I was silly for starting off that simple. 

Fair enough, I said, so how about something crazy like 3,450 multiplied by 612? 

He gave me the answer right away.

Forget about basketball — he had a gift for mathematics. And I never would have known that without sitting there and having a simple conversation.

Sometimes, just taking a second to connect with someone can help make connections and memories you will never forget. 

Meeting Their Heroes

 

When I work with these special needs kids, it’s not one-sided, because I get a ton of joy from meeting and working with these people. 

I came to Nebraska for track and field, but I knew that my volunteer work needed to continue being a big part of my life. With the help of the Athletic Department, I’m hopeful that we can launch a sports program for special needs people in the community, similar to what I experienced in my hometown next year.

Of course, Nebraska does a great job with the Husker Heroes event that I’ve been blessed to be a part of.

We go to the football team’s practice field and play games with the special needs kids and it’s great to see the kids go from station to station while meeting all the athletes.

They come from all over the state, and it’s really awesome to see how far this event can reach.

The coolest thing about it is that us athletes being there, means so much to the kids. 

It’s not like I’m a football player or anything but it still gives you perspective about how much you’re looked up to as a Husker athlete.

They go from idolizing the athletes they see on TV to meeting them and having them as their friend – just like we won’t forget these experiences any time soon, neither will they.

And in every game we play, it just showed me why this work is so fulfilling.

We were playing with building blocks like Jenga, and I told the kids to be careful not to knock our tower down.

This little girl turned to me and went, “it’s okay if I knock it down, I’ll just build it back up” with a smile that melted my heart right then and there. 

I love that lack of fear and that great outlook on life.

These kids have a special ability to view the world outside of the hardships and difficulties that they face and focus on the beauty that this life brings. 

If you ask me, I feel like what these people have is more of a special capability than a disability. 

Making It My Passion

 

I truly believe that you can learn so much from working with kids who have disabilities. 

The only reason that I see people struggling to connect with disabled people is because it can be difficult for people with special needs to communicate effectively.

That’s why I’m majoring in speech pathology because I want to give people with special needs the ability to communicate with others and share all the gifts and ideas they have.

I mean, I could go on for hours about what I’ve learned and how much it’s helped me grow as a person.

But nothing I could say would be more important than encouraging you to go and make friends with people with special needs. These programs are simply all about developing friendships and showing kindness.

I’m sure that by the end of one conversation you’ll already be more comfortable and realize how exceptional these people are.

I found my passion because I was lucky enough to be surrounded by these opportunities with special needs kids, and all those hours I put in truly changed my life.

It could change your life, too.