I was born with a rare birth defect天生缺陷 called TARSA Syndrome¹综合症, which means I am missing the radius桡骨，半径 bone in my forearms. My arms were shorter because of this condition, but I never thought of myself as different. I don't like being labeled as a "disabled" person because I feel like I can do anything I want. With the support of my parents, friends and a special program for youth with disabilities, I have learned how to fight for myself, and how to be strong.

That doesn't mean it has been easy. I went though走过，经历 some bad experiences, like being picked last for baseball games (it was hard for me to catch the ball) or the way people looked at me funny when I was out in public. But mostly, people accepted me and helped me. In elementary school, the other kids would help me open my locker³, pick up books or do some of the other tasks that were hard for me.

My family had come here from Poland specifically so that I could get treatment, because my country didn't have the technology to help me. I missed some school, especially second grade, for a series of surgeries at the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital to lengthen⁴ my forearms前臂. I had to work hard to keep up academically. Luckily, my parents were always there for me. They'd go with me and talk to the counselors⁵辅导员，顾问 about what I needed. They'd carry my books for me.

When I went to seventh grade, I had to leave behind the comfort of elementary school, where I knew everyone, and make new friends. Would I be able to find people who could see me as ME and not as someone with a disability? Every day, I would sit alone at lunchtime. I felt so shy and I guess I was expecting people to come up to等于，达到 me. But I made a few friends, and then we added a few more, and soon I had a group of eight friends and we had great times together.

In junior high and high school, as classes got harder, I struggled more. I noticed that the person next to me could sleep through class, and still earn average grades, while I'd have to work my butt⁶ off很努力地. I need more time to memorize things, to take notes, write or type on the computer. Luckily at Walnut⁷ High School, they allowed me to take my tests during a different class period so I could have more time. I never had to take "specialed" classes.

When I was a sophomore⁸, I wrote an article about myself for the school newspaper, and people started asking me what my disability was like. They told me I was brave for having gone through the 15 surgeries I needed to help correct my condition. I never heard anyone say anything mean, and it felt good to help people get to know me better.