Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2011, Page 44

Description:	/on Make Me SmileSepto-optic dysplasia is a disorder thataffects one in every 10,000 newborns.Sophomore Jessica Walker was that one.The disorder, septo-optic dysplasia,occurs early in the brains developmentand has three main manifestations:underdevelopment of the optic nerve,uncharacteristic formation of the midlineof the brain and underdevelopment ofthe pituitary gland, where hormones areproduced.Septo-optic dysplasia is where Im blind inone eye, and my brain is cut the wrong way,Walker said.Walkers disorder affects her every day, butshe tries to keep the challenges on a physicallevel. She doesnt let septo-optic dysplasiabring her down mentally, always perseveringto have a positive attitude.I have to always turn my head a differentway to see people, and since I cant see outof this eye, I tend to bump into people,Walker said.I m actually fortunate, becausIIm unique in my own way.Vicki Waltz, Health and WellnessEducation and Peer Mediation teacher,described Walker as the most smiling kid inI her health class.I think she has one of the most positiveI attitudes, Waltz said. You see kids comein saying Tm sad. Im hungry. Im sick. My_boyfriend broke ud with me. She doesntlyou had a classroom full of Jessicas, itd beIgreat day.Walkernas had to deal with bullying andI differences all her life, but with the help ofII her mother and family, she has continued onI with a smile.On my first day of 6th grade, people werebullying me, and I didnt know what to do,Walker said. So I talked to my mother, andshe said, Words will never bring me down. Ihave a no-bullying policy, because theres nobullying for me.Walkers love for her mother and herfamily is apparent in the way she talks aboutthem. Her whole entire family is able tomake her smile.I love my [family], Walker said. [Septo-optic dysplasia] is just one problem me andmy mom can solve together. Whenever Imsick, shes always there for me.Walker regards her disorder as only that: aproblem that can be solved. She focuses on; the things that make her happy in life andthe differences she wants to make in other(peoples fives.I enjoy waking up in the morning andenjoying a nice, bright day at schoolandseeing everyones smiling face, Walker said.Walkers nopes for the future includenurturing her love of art and becomingan art teacher. She also plans to follow nerparents advice:The one, [most important] lesson theytaught me was that I could do more thingson my own, Walker said. I will succeed onmy own if I just try...and I have.0ULJ
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/7037
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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