By: Morgan Capinding
Ever since I was born, I knew I was different. I knew that I was going to be way different than all the other kids in my elementary school. l was born with a Lymphangioma, which is when lymph nodes are intertwined with muscles and nerves; l was one of the lucky people to have one in my upper right lip.
As a young child, I was introduced to AboutFace. I attended Camp Trailblazers and participated in community socials like ice skating in Toronto, and the annual Christmas potluck. AboutFace has opened me up to a community where I feel accepted for everything and anything that I am. They have changed my life for the better and I will never be able to thank them enough for that.
Since I practically grew up in the hospital, I was introduced to so many amazing social workers. They helped me out so much when I was going through a lot of surgeries – they would calm me down, bring me sand to play with, help me with my fear of needles, and let me play with the hospital iPad when I was waiting to go into surgery. Because of the amazing care I got from the social workers at the hospital, this is what I have had planned to go to school for, for almost a decade.
Thanks in part to this scholarship, I will be attending the Social Work Program at Lakehead University this fall. My goal is to become a social worker in a hospital so I can give back to patients that are going through the same experience as I did as a child. I want to be able to help people for the greater good.
I have already gained experience with helping people, and being around people with special needs because I have taken a co-op placement in one of the special educations classes in my local high school, Cayuga Secondary School. In this co-op, I learned about the different needs that the students need help with. Since being in the co-op, and due to the fact my mother works with deaf and blind people, I have been around people with special needs for a long time. I know that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Thank you AboutFace for helping me reach my goal of becoming a social worker and helping others!