The beautiful parts about being in the disability community
By Mallory
Me and Jack at my graduation from Shepherds College
A Little About Me
I was raised in a loving household, consisting of my parents, my younger brother Jack, and me. Although I went to traditional schools from preschool to 4th grade, my mom pulled me and my brother out and decided to homeschool us and I thrived, as I was able to learn at my own pace and not worry about falling behind other kids.
Going to College
In 2021, I went to Shepherds College in Union Grove, WI. Shepherds College is a Christian postsecondary 3-year school for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That winter break, I decided to be a technology major, as I have had a love for technology for a while. At Shepherds College, I thrived. I developed life-long friendships, enhanced my social and relational skills, and home and work skills.
I had some challenging points, but those became opportunities for me to grow into the person I was created to be. When I graduated in June, I received the Technology Award for growing in my major, my trustworthiness, my ability to complete a task and complete it well, and my ability to stay calm even in stressful situations.
My major instructor always challenged me to do better, because he saw what I could and can do. In my 3rd and final year at school, we had weekly chats about my progress (he did this with all the 3rd year technology students).
Going to Brazil
A couple weeks after graduating from Shepherds College, I embarked on a 10 day long mission trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil. I wrote more in depth about this in an earlier post, but to briefly summarize it, I volunteered with a church’s disability ministry for young children, helped at a food pantry, helped at a school for children with special needs, helped sort clothes for a church donation center that helps low-income families. The last three days of the trip, I served at a family camp put on by the premier Christian non-profit disability ministry Joni & Friends.
Me as a one year old (2002)
Future Dreams
In the future, I hope to own an Etsy shop that sells stickers and other merchandise such as t-shirts, tote bags, and bracelets. All proceeds from each purchase would go to Joni & Friends, as I strongly believe in their mission to serve the disability community both here in the United States and all around the world.
An example of my graphic designs
Summary
Life is a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs, and twists and turns. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that our experiences can help shape who we are, while not being defined by them. Just yesterday, the wife of the Shepherds College president asked me to join them on the June 2025 10-day mission trip to Brazil. I said yes and I can’t wait to join them again.
