15 years of flying

"When life starts to get to me my mom says, 'bumblebees don't know.' This is because aerodynamically bumblebees shouldn't be able to fly; yet they do. This reminds me that even though I was told I couldn't do things, I did. Knowing this, I get up each day and work hard at school and work.  When I do these thing, I am flying." -- from my American University essay, 2005

According to principles of physics and aeronautics bumble bees should not be able to take flight.  Yet, bees can fly and do fly. Why though? How can this little insect defy the odds of something as concrete as gravity?

It is most likely because no one ever told them they can't fly.

Why do I even know this? Because 15 years ago I was the little bumble bee flying along until someone told me I shouldn't be flying.  And...I stopped flying so freely.  That day, April 15, 1998, I was diagnosed with my Central Auditory Processing Deficit and other various learning issues.

That day a professional told me I was clearly accomplishing things I shouldn't be able to do.  So I stopped.  Well, more precisely my spirit stopped.  It took several years of my mom fighting for me and encouraging me until I got off the ground again and began to soar again, and soar I have.

This year is somewhat more momentous to me. Besides being 15 years since that fateful day, this year I am not only a successful adult, I am a teacher, more specifically a special education teacher. In a way, I have become a bee keeper.  I spend every day making sure my students can fly and can learn, it may be harder than it should be, but the end result is so sweet.

A few years ago, I researched more about bees and their flying and I found one quote about bees and flying that really spoke to me, "their aerodynamic performance decreases and to compensate, they tend to flap their wings faster."  To me that says it right there: children with LDs can fly, and clearly we do fly, but we just have to flap our wings harder.  We are the bumble bees - doing the impossible every day, but what matters is we do it.

Today, more than ever, I am so glad I realized I could fly, regardless of what any specialist and test said.  The last 15 years have been full of trials and sweetness and I am so happy to be flying through life; my arms may be tired but it's been so worth it.