Kalin , 13
FEAT URED
MEET KALIN !
My name is Kalin , I ’ m 13 and I am in eighth grade . I go to Chester Boren Middle School in Centralia . I ’ ve grown up around sports , in fact I started attending basketball practice when I was an infant when my mom coached . My dad still coaches at Centralia High School . I am involved in many sports like basketball , softball and track . I also do dance at Janet ’ s Dance Studio and have been dancing for 10 years now …. I started when I was 4 .
I was born without fingers on my left hand aka my “ baby hand ”. Some doctors think I had Amniotic Band Syndrome which is when the umbilical cord gets wrapped around your fingers . Other doctors say there was a circulation issue . We will never know for sure but really it doesn ’ t matter as it does not change anything .
There are struggles for me at times because I have to learn how to do things in a different way . I have had to learn multiple things like weight lifting differently . With my dad also being a PE teacher , we knew I was going to have to do weight lifting in high school for a grade as well as for sports . Of course it took time , creativity and determination but we did figure it out . I also have struggled with braided hair . It ’ s something I always thought was cool and wanted to do , but having only 5 fingers was very inconvenient . With lots of practice I have been able to accomplish my goal .
There are times when I feel like something is too hard for me just because I don ’ t have all 10 fingers . However , I have a great family , friends and coaches who tell me that I am good enough and I can do anything that someone with 10 fingers can .
I don ’ t know why God made me like this but I know it is for a reason and I accept that ! Everyone has their challenges and this just so happens to be mine and I ’ m learning to never give up and always keep trying .
24 January 2017
Kalin , 13