[Stylist] A new prompt

Mon Oct 21 17:34:09 UTC 2019

That's frustrating and irritating what your teacher said, Chris. As a fellow
diabetic since the age of 4, I spent my entire life doing various physical
activities. I was a dancer and danced through my 20s. I did softball when I
was little, and in high school, I did soccer, track and swim in addition to
cheerleading. I suppose I had coaches concerned about my diabetes, but no
one ever said anything to me, nor was I kept from participating. My parents
also did not hold me back from things like this because of my diabetes. It's
so frustrating when I hear stories like this. To this day, I stay active. I
did a triathlon when I was pregnant with my second son. I continue to swim
and jog and powerwalking. I also practice yoga. Physical activity is
actually a big part of diabetes management, so it's so silly when people
think diabetics can't participate in sports and athletics. Glad your teacher
didn't stop you from finding other sports to be involved in even if he
didn't allow you to work with him.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jackie via Stylist
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2019 12:21 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jackie <jackieleepoet at cox.net>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] A new prompt

Kris,
Strange that we  both had Mr. Thompsons in our high school lives with such
different outcomes.
I enjoyed hearing your story.
I also thank you for reading and responding.
I hope you are swimming for recreation. I would think it would be a good
activity for diabetes because you can so easily regulate the expenditure of
energy by how fast and how long you swim. I think the coach should have
encouraged you  and learned your parameters.

Jacqueline Williams

Clarity is just questioning having eaten its fill.
     Jenny Xie

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chris Kuell
via Stylist
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2019 8:36 AM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Chris Kuell <ckuell at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] A new prompt

Hey Jackie,

This is a very nice essay, and thanks for sharing it with us. It shows how
Mr. Thompson helped you come out of your shell, as well as highlighting the
importance of seeing various sides to an issue--something that is largely
lost in today's world.

Interestingly, I also had a Mr. Thompson when I was in high school, but I
don't have anything positive to say about him. I never had him as a teacher,
but did encounter him in his roles as the swim and soccer coach. In ninth
grade I tried out for swim team, knowing I wasn't the fastest swimmer, but I
also wasn't the slowest. When I didn't make the team I went to talk to him.
This was the 70s, and teachers/coaches weren't afraid of being sued for what
they said or did. He told me plainly that he knew I was a good swimmer, but
I was a diabetic and he wouldn't allow me to be on the team because if
anything happened to me it would be his responsibility. I went home and
sulked, and didn't try out for the swim team again. However, I had been
playing soccer since I was five, and I was very good. When I was 14 I was
recruited by a private German club to play for them, and it was a great
experience because the coaches really taught me a lot. I was the leading
scorer on the junior varsity team in 10th grade, and despite Mr. Thompson
coaching the varsity, I had no doubt I'd make varsity my junior year. But
nope--he cut me, and pretty much everybody was shocked.

So you got the Mr. Thompson who believed in you;  and I got the one who
didn't believe in me.

Chris

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