Hi, my name is Pete Rodríguez and I’m writing this blog to tell you a little bit about myself. I’m a confident and very determined individual who has accomplished a lot in my life. Life has been a tough journey and there have been a lot of obstacles along the way. I was born normal and without a care in the world. Until the age of 7 when my whole life changed. But because of my faith in God and with the help of my mom I have accomplished a lot in my life.
When I was 7 years old my cousin and I went to my neighbor’s house to drop off some flowers because his wife had recently died from cancer. While we were at his house he gave us a stuffed doll with some sort of chemical inside; I was the only one who smelled the doll. After I smelled the doll, I couldn’t walk or talk. I couldn’t even hold my head up. I lost total control of my body.
I came out of his house stumbling and falling every time I tried to walk. I also couldn’t stop drooling. I was scared when my dad picked me up from the ground and my parents took me to the hospital. I spent 2 months in the hospital not being able to move. But as time went on, I started to gain back most of the movement in my body.
First, I learned how to walk again, I used to be in a wheelchair. I hated being in a wheelchair and depending on other people to push me around, and I would remember my mom telling me that if I didn’t like being in a wheelchair that I should do something about it. From then on, my mom lit a fire in me that has never gone out. She would always try to challenge me to work hard and do my best. I also learned how to ride a bike, drive a car, drive a trash truck, drive a forklift, and I also have a liberal studies degree from Cal Poly Pomona.
When I was younger, I wanted to be a bodybuilder. I wanted to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I used to go to the gym and work out 5 days a week 2 hours a day for 10 years straight. Working out gave me a lot of confidence in myself. It made me feel like I could do anything in life.
Therefore, I’m a very motivated and determined individual who works hard at everything I do and never gives up.
When people look at me, they think I’m stupid and that I don’t know anything because I have a speech problem and have trouble communicating what I really want. People sometimes even think that I’m developmentally disabled. But they are so wrong because I am a great leader and a problem solver.
Due to me being disabled there are a lot of challenges and problems in my life that I have to deal with and overcome. I also have a lot of problems opening and closing my hands, especially my right hand, but that hasn’t stopped me from accomplishing everything I can in life.
And to all those people who feel hopeless and useless; if I can accomplish all these things in my life then so can you. All You have to do is love yourself and believe in yourself and work hard at everything you do and never give up. And don’t ever let anyone talk down to you just because you are disabled,
Life is very hard and challenging, especially when you are disabled. But whenever you believe in yourself you can accomplish anything in life.