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Louisiana Association of Blind Students (LABS) |
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WATCH WHAT YOU SAY Editor's introduction: Robert Scott is a graduate student at Louisiana Tech in the field of orientation and mobility. He currently serves on the board of the North Central chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana, and has also been involved in the Louisiana Association of Blind Students. In this article, he tells of his experiences teaching the NFB philosophy to students. In the National Federation of the Blind, we have a philosophy that if you say it, you'd better be able to do it. This philosophy is part of everything we do, but I found it to ring especially true one summer while teaching travel for the STEP program at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. As a cane travel instructor, you are often the least favorite instructor of the program; it was no exception this summer either. Walking in 100 degree plus weather and going long distances on top of that doesn't seem to endear one. During these routes, I was often noted as having a few favorite sayings. One of these was "Face your fears." Very often, I found myself encouraging, coaxing, and even pushing my students to attempt something new on a route. Little did I know how close I would come to eating my words this particular summer. During our national conventions, STEP students and staff often make trips to Six Flags on tour day, time and opportunity permitting. The 2003 convention offered this opportunity and off we went. We rode most of the rides in the park, and then we came to the roller coasters. Now, I must note here that I had attended the convention the previous year as a part of the STEP program staff and had the opportunity to visit Six Flags then too, so I was familiar with most of the rides there. I had even ridden a roller coaster called, "Batman: The Ride." I say this to set the scene. We came to the coasters and I eagerly got in line for the same roller coaster. It was fun to be able to re-visit the ride and I had a good time. After I thought I had proven I wasn't afraid of the coasters to my students, the real challenge came. A couple of the students wanted to ride a taller, and may I say a more heart-wrenching ride. Needless to say, the other attending staff members were less than willing to ride with them and so I was volunteered. I got in line with my students and patiently, as well as anxiously, waited for our turn on the roller coaster. As I approached and started to climb the stairs to the ride, I could feel my fear of heights and this ride begin to tighten its grip. It finally came to the point that I made my fatal error. I looked at my students and said, "I don't know if I can do this one, guys" or something to that effect. That was the mistake of the summer as my students turned back to me and said, "Face your fears, Robert!" Well, I was stuck. I couldn't very well back out now, with my own words still ringing in my ears and my students observing my every move. So I took my own advice and rode the ride. The rest of the summer seemed to go a little easier after that and I truly had the respect of my students. Moral of the story? As the title says, watch what you say - it may very well be the words you either eat or live by some day. |
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