When I was a freshman, several of my friends were cheerleaders or dancers. I would go to their practices sometimes and help them learn their routines and choreography. Although I had just recently become completely wheelchair dependent, I still had a passion for dance and performing. One day, at a practice, the coach brought up the idea that I might consider being a mascot. I was so excited. I rushed home to ask my mom and she immediately said no. She said she worried it wouldn't be safe for me. I remember being so angry that I yelled at her and laid on my bed and cried about the injustice of it all. Later I heard my mom tell my aunt that she was worried that I would be picked on for being a mascot in a wheelchair and how kids on the other team may be extra cruel about their opposition being disabled. In hindsight, she was probably right and was protecting me. At the time, I didn't understand. I thought that it was her saying that I wasn't good enough or she thought I would...