By Natalie Vaughan
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

This is part one of a three-part series on students who overcome adversity in pursuit of an education.

As Sarah Whitlock goes down the hall, she sees looks of pity on some peoples' faces. Some will not make eye contact and some will look away from her. People tiptoe around the word disability and are careful about what they say around her.
                                                                 Above: Sarah Whitlock

"Many people have had limited contact with people with disabilities and they're not used to working with them and they're not comfortable with them," said Sean Murphy, Coordinator of Disability Services. "They're seeing the disability, not the person."

Sarah has Cerebral Palsy, a group of disorders that affect movement control. She does not have use of her legs and must have helpers for basic life functions, such as getting dressed and getting to school. Her life revolves around other people and their lives revolve around her, so her life must always be on a schedule.

Sarah views her challenges as an opportunity to grow as a person.

"The fact that my body does not work has made me not take things for granted and has helped develop my strength," Sarah said. "It has allowed me to look past the exterior and see people as they truly are. I get the most strength from knowing that God has a plan for my life and that there is a definite reason for having my disability. I can have joy in knowing that I was designed for a purpose."

As encouragement a friend once said, "Sarah, you do not remind me of a person in a wheelchair."

Sarah understood her friend meant it as a compliment, but Sarah thought, "what's wrong with a person in a wheelchair?"

"My disability is indeed a part of who I am," Sarah said.

Sarah has not allowed her disability to slow her down. She graduated in 3 1-2 years from Texas A&M University in College Station with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in clinical psychology at UH-Clear Lake.

"Despite her limitations she gets out there," said Ron Graham, a friend and coworker of Sarah's. "The first time anyone meets her, she stands out as a leader."

During her college career, Sarah has served on several leadership teams and volunteered her time for several organizations. Currently she volunteers for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where she goes into prisons and speaks on her experiences and shares with others how, with God, you can overcome any obstacle. She is also the secretary of the Clinical Psychology Student Association on campus.

"She approaches life with a beaming, sunshine smile and positive attitude," Graham said. "She's definitely someone who's going somewhere." Sarah may deal with life a little differently than most people, but she wants people to know that she's not that different.

"Everyone is different, we all have something we bring into the world," Sarah said. "I am different and proud of that. I am proud that knowing I am different doesn't make me that different."

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