a true role model.

Nick & Me

Prom

When We Were Young

Our Silliness

6th Grade Camp

Brotherly Love

1st Day of School

Everybody has a role model -- normally a parent, coach, or some famous figure. That is what most of the kids in my class wrote about. The singer who inspired them to start vocal lessons or the father who taught them how to compete in sports. I mean, we were in elementary school. It did not get much deeper than that. However, my role model had already taught me valuable life lessons. He had taught me not only how to have fun but how to be happy; how to not let your struggles impact who you were meant to be.

“Class, before you start writing I would like to hear who you have chosen,” my teacher exclaimed. She began to walk around, approving the cliché versions of who we wanted to be. When she got to my desk she looked down and gave me a sympathetic smile as she read the name scrawled across the top of my page, ‘Nick Lambert.’ She was well aware of his disability, Down syndrome. Finally she spoke up and said, “Taylor, you can not use your brother. A role model is supposed to be someone who you want to be like, who can do something you cannot.” I buried my face in my hands and tried to hold back my tears as she listed off the ‘acceptable’ choices: “maybe try your mom, dad, a teacher, one of your grandparents, maybe an actress…” I stopped listening.

To me, my brother was everything -- is everything -- and no one is ever going to change that. Even to you it might sound crazy, a role model with Down Syndrome, but to me it makes perfect sense. No other person has shown me the real importance of life like he has. His unconditional love and strength has helped me through my hard days and for that he deserves to be recognized. Nick proves her words wrong everyday by accomplishing anything he puts his mind to and always giving me a reason to look up to him. Nick became my role model so I could become a person I am today; so that I could live my life as my life, not a life constructed by others’ expectations. He showed me to live a life full of goofy faces and wild imaginary friends; a life where what truly matters is what you can pass on.

Nick’s perseverance has allowed me to realize why I was put on this earth. It has shown me my purpose, my dream. The chance to change lives, to allow kids to reach their full potential. To teach that no matter the obstacle and no matter what people say you can accomplish your goals. A career in special education would allow me to watch as kids who are labeled as ‘disabled’ defy society’s expectations and attain their imagination’s greatest desires. My goal is to witness at least one of my students just get that moment when everything just clicks, and all their hard work pays off. I am determined to show that beyond doubt all kids, no matter their differences, hold all the qualifications to be a role model.