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Rant & Rave
DEC. 29, 1995, started out no different than any other day. I went to the beach to bodyboard with my friend, Pali. A perfect set started to form about 20 feet away. When the first wave started to wash ashore, I began to run. I knew that I had to have the timing just right to launch the next wave perfectly. Possibilities open
for paraplegicAs adrenaline rushed through my body, I threw down my board and jumped on. It was perfect. As I rode the second wave, though, my board soared into the air.
Suddenly, I felt myself coming down, but something went wrong. I landed on my head. With the impact, I instantly broke my neck.
At 13, I was a paraplegic.
I never thought something like this could happen to me. I was suddenly faced with overwhelming physical and emotional obstacles that I wouldn't wish on anyone.
Because of the severity of my injury, I couldn't do the bare essentials of everyday life. Things like feeding myself, taking showers, getting dressed, etc. were impossible by myself.
I fell into a depression. I cried almost every night and asked God over and over, "Why me?" and "How could you let this happen?"
I told myself, "I don't want to live anymore." I was angry and withdrawn. I didn't want to go anywhere and just stayed home.
My mother urged me to go to school but I refused. "How can I face my friends like this? Would they accept me now that I am different?" I was ashamed.
Through continual urging -- no, pushing -- from both my mother and therapist, I decided to go back to Waipahu High.
It wasn't easy at first. But soon all of my peers at Waipahu made me feel accepted, which was a giant step on the road to recovery. This is where I belonged. They saw me as Ernest the person, not Ernest the boy in the wheelchair. In fact, because I was weak, they wanted to push me to class. Some friends helped me take notes, which was difficult for me.
I started to go out to the movies with my friends. From this and many other experiences, I learned that I had to be comfortable with myself and my differences before I could begin to feel comfortable around others.
TODAY, I have grown physically and emotionally. Since my accident, I have gained a deeper understanding of my life and what I can do. I have accomplished major goals, mainly dealing with regaining my independence, as well as improving my self-esteem.
I've participated in as many activities as I could, including wheelchair races, hosting foreign exchange students, going to Seattle for an inner growth conference, and much more.
I was selected the 1999-2000 homecoming king and a member of the senior prom court.
Through the YMCA, I've learned that giving back to my community is very important. As a result, I've participated in projects like graffiti paint-outs. I've also volunteered my time at Honowai Elementary where I tutored students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades.
Now that I have graduated, I'm excited yet a little anxious about my future as an adult. I've been accepted by the University of Hawaii at Manoa and University of Nevada-Las Vegas. My plans are to attend the UH for a couple years and then transfer to UNLV.
I want to pursue a career in computers with a background in counseling. This will help me become an independent contributor to society.
Ernest Chun-Olinger is one of six public high school students chosen as Outstanding Achievement winners by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. For other winners, see the May 31 story.
Chun-Olinger graduated from Waipahu High School on Sunday. Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature
allowing those 12 to 22 to serve up fresh perspectives.
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