The Personal Side of Oppression

I remember working with college students who had disabilities. One student that comes to mind is a former student and friend Ceasar. Ceasar is a very bright student who has sight in his left eye and very limited sight in his right eye.  In spite of not having the best vision in his eyes, he had a strong vision in his mind to prove to himself that he could take the hardest classes and get A’s in all of them. This was a high goal he had sent for himself. He had gone to the Counseling Office and told the counselor to sign him up for Chemistry, Calculus, Second Year Italian and First Year Japanese. The Counselor told him that these were hard classes and since you have a disability there was no way possible you could pass these courses. Ceasar told the counselor I know I can do it if I believe in myself and if I do fail in the process, it will be a learning experience. Not only did Ceasar complete all his courses but he did get straight A’s. After he received his report card he went back to the counselor and said, remember me, I am the student who was told by you that I would never pass my courses. Take a look at my report card and see what grades I have received.  Ceasar left the office by saying, never tell me again I cannot do something because I will always prove you wrong.

                The way that this had diminished equity was that the counselor had assumed that just because Ceasar had a disability that Ceasar could not handle a hard work load and that people with disabilities are sometimes seen as being lazy. Ceasar proved that just because someone has a disability, it does not mean that they cannot accomplish anything. All a disability is an obstacle that someone has to jump over in order to become successful.  Ceasar took the words that the counselor told him and set a goal to do well and he did exactly what he set out to do.

                When Ceasar told me what the counselor had said that those were hard classes and that Ceasar would have a hard time passing them I was upset. I could not believe that a counselor who is supposed to guide students and help them achieve their goals would be heartless and tell Ceasar in essence that he could not pass these courses. Ceasar is a smart person and he knows his own limitations. I was proud of Ceasar because he listened to his own mind and his heart. I was also proud that he had done so well in his courses. I loved seeing the counselor’s face drop when Ceasar presented him with the report card with straight A’s.

                I feel that if anybody should change it should be the counselor. The counselor should not have assumed that just because Ceasar had a disability that Ceasar did not know what he was doing. Ceasar knows his limitations and he loves a challenge. Ceasar is not the type of person who backs down on a challenge and he is not a quitter.  The counselor needs to do a better job of supporting his students and believe in his students if he expects his students to succeed.