One Teenager Speaking Up

Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
— Galatians 6:2 (NRSV)

I was reading the Washington Post on Monday when I came upon a special interest story that warmed my heart. It was about a high school girl named Catherine Contreras who is changing lives because of a fire drill. Catherine has several friends with particular challenges. During a fire drill, she watched these friends struggle to make their way down to the safe area outside the building. Thomas S. Wootton High School, where Catherine is a senior, was not meeting the code for handicap accessibility.

 

In Rockville, Maryland, the Montgomery County School Board hadn’t considered the accessibility shortcomings until young Catherine Contreras forced them to look harder. Catherine shared her concerns with them, “Students with disabilities are struggling to access a public education all across Montgomery County and it seems like you all are doing nothing to fix this.” Contreras continued, “By not having safe and accessible schools, you are telling thousands of disabled students all across the county that their education does not matter. That they don’t matter.”

 

After first making excuses, the school board admitted they knew four years ago the schools needed to become more accessible. Catherine realized that if a relatively wealthy school district like hers had these issues, imagine how the poor districts fail to provide for those with disabilities. Because of this experience and learning the difference one person can make, she intends to attend college in the fall and study law. Her goal is to be a disability rights attorney.

 

This story is a reminder that if a seventeen-year-old high school student can make lasting change in her community, so can you and me. It wasn’t legal understanding that made Catherine successful; it was simply having compassion, love, and the willingness to speak up. I believe God took Catherine’s kindness and enhanced it with the Holy Spirit, giving her the courage to speak out and the guidance to influence the right people. Like Catherine, look around, and pay attention to the injustices in our community. When you see an opportunity, invite God to help you make a lasting difference.

 
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