NFB Youth Slam! » Denzel

Aloha From Karl Pangilinan.

Denzel — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:40:30 +0000

Hey everyone, its me with another interesting interview. I had the opportunity to interview my mentor, Karl. He is from Honolulu, Hawaii, which is on one of the islands that make up the state. Karl’s hobbies include Playing the guitar, walking ( which I also do.), hanging out at the beach, and cooking. Karl came to The Youth Slam because he wanted to do at least one good deed for society. He says that being apart of this year’s Youth Slam has been a learning experience for him because he has learned not to live in fear and because his mentees are cool. Karl is having fun laughing with mentees and now realizes that he can relate to other blind people just as I can relate to him.
Growing up was a hard road for Karl. He was born blind, and his parents sheltered him. They felt that he was in the way and helpless, but they also wanted him to be perfect. Karl felt bad and was driven to rebel against everyone. He spoke about his high school life which brought a tear to my eye. Karl was picked on by his sister’s boyfriend and was later abandon by his sister. He also had bad grades because he had no accessible equipment for blind students. Karl says the only things he did well in school were dancing and wrestling, but he had to fight to join the team because he had to prove that a blind guy could wrestle. After high school he left home because he recognized that he had to grow up since his parents weren’t going to be around forever.
So Karl went to a training center in California, where he got the proper training to be a successful blind adult. He says it was scary, but fear drove him to learn quickly. After his training he attempted to attend college to study electronic music. He has one trustworthy friend who also wants him to be successful and live life.
Karl plans to find a job teaching computers. He wants us blind teens to keep our heads up. So, Karl, thank you. I want you to know that you are the best. Thanks for being my mentor. I love you and everyone else here.
Until next time.

A Speech to Remember

Denzel — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:48:15 +0000

I was honored to have been chosen to make a speech on be half of The Maryland Association of Blind Students. “Why,” you ask? The Baltimore public school system is not giving blind students the materials we need in order to be successful in school. MABS is therefore working with the NFB of Maryland to ensure that the next generation of blind students will have proper Braille and cane training, effective assessments to determine appropriate services, and functional assistive technology. I strongly encourage each and every one of you to make sure you and your peers are getting what you need.
While on stage, I was thinking, “God, how am I going to top these two great leaders? Is my hair okay? Are my pants zipped? Oh no! I forgot my speech.” When my name was introduced, I made my way up to the mic telling myself, “Alright Denzel. Remember just like we practiced.” As I began to speak I got extremely nervous, and some of my friends told me I sounded like I was about to cry. But by the time I realized that I was nervous, I was done speaking. I got through it because my pride took over. As I walked off the stage, Ms. Rosy congratulated me, and it was on to the interviews. I felt like my favorite football player, Derrick Mason. The reporter asked me a series of questions, and I did my best to answer them.
I would like to thank my NFB family and all who support me and other blind students. Without your support, blind students in Maryland and all over the United States would have no hope for an education equal to that provided to our sighted peers.

Greg Dwall’s Athletic Life

Denzel — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:36:22 +0000

This afternoon I had a fascinating interview with Greg Dwall, who was born February 10, 1979, in Chico, California. Mr. Dwall is an expert in Judo, but is still learning. He has played in 3 international competitions such as the World Judo Championships in Brazil and the 2008 Olympics in Asia. During these games, Mr. Dwall became a silver and bronze metal winner. The most impressive fact that caught my eye was that Greg plays Judo against sighted opponents. He does this by developing physical strategies and just plain hard work. I asked Greg what goes through his mind when playing Judo. “Action,” he said, “Just beating my opponent,” he said simply.

Greg said that with the coaching he believes that blind athletes can be great — that’s why he wants to continue the legacy of the blind Judo wrestlers before him.

I also had a chance to explore Greg’s personal life and learn what makes a strong judo player and some strong events that helped build this man’s character. He started off by saying he grew up in a stable home, both parents, one brother and one sister; also throughout his time in school he was active in football, soccer and wrestling. His hobbies were classic rural boy ones — hunting and wrestling, a sport in which he won some awards. Greg confided in me with some irony that in his teenage years he mostly paid more attention to sports and his girlfriend and he never worried about his grades. When it was time to figure out what college and what career he wanted to do, however, he was trap, because his grades weren’t great and his mind wasn’t together. So, increasingly, he began to feel pressured by family and other peers.

When I asked him what he did to get through his hard times he said, “I got up and grab my shotgun and tried to end my life.” I was stunned at Greg’s great candor but he was comfortable explaining and I let him continue.

When He awoke a week later Greg discovered that he was missing half of his face and that he was blind. I ventured to ask what was going through his mind at that time and He was chillingly honest, ”Oh crap, what am I going to do now!”

Even in the midst of his recovery, Greg’s humor came through. While he was in the hospital he made a bet with his brother on who would win — the Packers or the Patriots. Interestingly, Greg says that he was more bothered after his accident by his injured face than with his blindness. Improving his face would require that Greg undergo multiple surgeries to restore his facial function and gain more comfort. After Greg was released from the hospital he attended college at California State University, Chico. Though he resumed his studies, further surgeries slowed him down. And in between all these demands he enrolled at a California blindness training center to gain the basics of blind independence such as Braille and cane travel.

Now that Greg Dwall is 30, he is looking toward the future, toward settling down in a stable community in Maryland, where he can keep teaching Judo and continue doing recreation jobs. His advice to other blind students thinking about sports is to “explore freely and make sure you have support from family or friends and, above all, keep working hard.”

How I Got Here: Tarik’s Story

Denzel — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:13:48 +0000

Hey fellow Youth slammers, its me, The Prince of Maryland. I had the opportunity to interview Tarik Suber, (my room mate everyone), a young man from Atlanta, Georgia.

He awoke Sunday, July 26, wondering, “Oh dear, what am I getting myself into!” Tarik is a first time Slammer (I’m proud of him). Tarik got here by plane; he arrived to BWI airport in Maryland, waited for the bus for the Youth slam, and now is having fun. So thanks Tarikand everyone. Stay tuned for my next piece.

25 Things About Me

Denzel — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:25:16 +0000

1. I write, make, and produce my own music.
2. I lost my vision playing football.
3. I walked into the girls’ bathroom today trying to get outside.
4. I’m tall.
5. I meet a lot of people, but I don’t talk much.
6. I laugh a lot.
7. I give really great advice.
8. My shoes always match my outfits.
9. My favorite color is blue, but I hate the color sky blue.
10. I play video games.
11. I can’t stand being hot.
12. I play basketball by using a beeper on the goal.
13. I love comedy.
14. I love being in the spotlight.
15. I write poetry about myself and things surrounding me.
16. I planned to be president of NFB.
17. I love challenges.
18. This is my second youth slam.
19. I like to beat box.
20. I am the president of Maryland Association of Blind Students.
21. I am not a computer whiz.
22. I like interviewing people.
23. I hope to have my own fashion line.
24. My rap name is Boss Dogg.
25. I plan to be successful in life no matter what.