DARE TO DREAM BIG!: Attitude Is Everything!

Imagine This: At age 8, you’re diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss. You still have your peripheral vision, but you are considered “legally blind.” So does you disability limit  your dreams and aspirations?

 Who: You’re Connor Boss, an 18-year-old high school honor student with a 4.2 grade-point average.

 What: The Miss Florida USA Pageant

 Where: Broward College, Davie, Florida

 When: July 14, 2012

 This is an inspiring story about a young woman who rises above her disability and dares to DREAM BIG!

 At age 8, you’re diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss. When glasses fail to improve your deteriorating eyesight, you realize just how big a challenge you’re facing.

 You still have your peripheral vision, but you can’t read anything smaller than 36-point font and you are considered to be “legally blind.”

 Throughout middle school and high school, you read enlarged textbooks and your exams (including the ACT and SAT) are read aloud to you. In spite of your vision problem, however, you earn a 4.2 grade-point average, serve as senior class president, and are captain of the cheerleading squad.

 You begin entering beauty pageants at age 16 to help improve your self-esteem. In 2012 you win the Miss Delray Beach title which makes you eligible to enter the Miss Florida USA competition. You are the first legally blind contestant to compete for the Miss Florida USA title.

 You hope that by entering the Miss Florida USA competition, you will inspire others to have the courage to do things they might not otherwise do.

 Thank you, Connor, for showing us once again that ability is more important than disability and that Attitude Is Everything!

Postscript: Connor Boss was one of the five finalists and the fourth runner-up in the Miss Florida USA 2012 pageant and is currently a student at Florida State University.

For More about Connor Bass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeDwZ0Nsa_Y

Something to Think about: Why do you think Connor was willing to take the risks she took?

                                  “The time is always right to do what is right.”

                                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.

Willoughby and I hope you enjoyed this week’s true story and will be back next week for another story to inspire you to DARE TO DREAM BIG!

 Reminder: To be eligible for the weekly drawing for an autographed copy of one of my books (your choice of book), please leave a comment here and on my blog at http://www.kidscandoit.com.

THIS WEEK’S WINNER IS LINNEA LARSEN.

CONGRATULATIONS, LINNEA!