The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Special Olympian encourages students
Special Olympian Loretta Claiborne encourages middle schoolers to achieve their goals
“I was told that I wasn’t going to do anything, and I’ll never forget that time. I thoughtIwas gonnabeanobody.”
- Special Olympian Loretta Claiborne
WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. >>
Students of all walks of life are capable of reaching their goals so long as they keep moving forward.
This was the lesson Special Olympian Loretta Claiborne imparted on students at Otto Shortell Middle School on Friday.
“Don’t tell me what you can’t do,” said the world-renowned runner and inspirational speaker to the almost 500 students assembled. “Show me what you can do.”
A six-time Special Olympics world games competitor, Claiborne is also the subject of a 2000 made-for-TV movie, “The Loretta Claiborne Story,” which students watched prior to her visit. Born in the projects, Claiborne recounted her life and struggles to the students at OSMS, from bullying she endured during her school years to achieving her goal of graduating high school when students with intellectual and developmental disabilities were consistently told they couldn’t.
“I was told that I wasn’t going to do anything, and I’ll never forget that time,” said Claiborne, who was born partially blind and could not walk or talk until the age of 4. “I thought I was gonna be a nobody.”
She was held back in kindergarten, first and second grade, she told the students, and when a child is held back that often, they can become the victim of
bullying, like she was. She cautioned students to be aware of the words they use and the actions they take, especially when it comes to online communication, because “when you say something, it gets out among everyone, and I’ve seen many a soul get hurt.”
“Don’t judge,” she said. “Never judge, because one day it could be you.”
She found encouragement through her mother, a stern womanwho refused to let Claiborne give up. She also threw herself into running, beginning at the age of 12. She hasn’t stopped running since, she said, taking part in numerous races, including the Boston Marathon, where she placed in the top 100 women. At 65, Claiborne still takes part in Special Olympics, both as an athlete and as their official inspirational speaker — but she also just loves running for its own sake, and runs whenever and wherever she can.
Her dream for all students, including those at OSMS, is for every child to graduate high school and follow their dreams. “Don’t let this go to waste,” she said. “School is a place for you to come and learn and be your best self.”
School is also about inclusion, she said, and as an advocate for those with special needs, she encouraged the students to always be respectful to one another regardless of their ability. Everyone has their own disability, she explained, whether it’s developmental, intellectual, or even social, but in the end everyone is more alike than they are different.
“Don’t let your disability define you,” she said.
Tyler Briggs, 12, said he was particularly inspired by Claiborne’s story about growing up. Her story about being bullied resonated with him, and being able to see her speak was “great.”
“It was good,” agreed Miles Leahey, 11. He asked Claiborne if she had any pets like she did in the movie. She does not, because she’s allergic to cats, she told him. Miles is also a fellow Special Olympian, who competed in the 100 meter dash a couple years ago, he said.
For Breanna Pratt, 11, meeting Claiborne was a dreamcome true. Claiborne is someone she really looks up to, she said, and she was thrumming with excitement at the chance to meet and take a picture with her idol. “It was great.” Gloria Piazza’s class has been preparing the Claiborne’s visit for a month. For the mixed class of sixth, seventh and eighth graders, having such an inspirational figure was particularly important, Piazza said.
“It was really happy for them to see what is possible,” she said. And for other students in the school, it was important for them to see someone “who is just like my kids.”
“They aren’t going to be nothing when they grow up,” Piazza said.
“She’s always inspirational no matter where she goes,” said Tri-Valley YMCA CEO Hank Leo, who has known Claiborne for 15 years and invited her to speak at the middle school. It almost didn’t happen because Hurricane Michael cancelled all flights into the area, but Claiborne refused to let the students at OSMS down and so she and Leo took a bus up from Pennsylvania so that she could speak.
“I think she’s truly one of America’s icons,” Leo added. “She represents all that’s good in people.”
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you you can’t do this, you can’t do that,” Claiborne said. “Someone is going to tell you you can’t do something. Students, show your teachers what you can do. Storm the castle.”