Sports For All

     Para is a prefix implying multiple connotations, often defined as "next-to" or "side-by-side" by the Greeks. In this instance, the meaning of the Paralympics, when compared to the Olympics, refers to the games being side by side with each other, or simply, parallel. I believe this is due to the capabilities of the athletes in the Paralympics versus the Olympics. The Olympics displays athletes without conditions that cause them to play their sport differently. Paralympics, which have competitors with physical and intellectual inabilities, still showcases athletes competing in sports, but not to the extent that Olympic athletes do. While both games exhibit athletes contending, they can't engage in the same sport, making them parallel with those in the Olympics.       For some time, the Paralympics wasn't a concept one would fathom. Many individuals who were disabled either physically or intellectually were often ostracized in their community or looked dow

     For a considerable fraction of my life, I always thought that a disability physically hindered one from completing day-to-day tasks. Although this is partially true, I failed to regard those who struggled with disabilities cognitively. Growing up, I had a family friend who had a son with a cognitive disability and a physical impairment. On the outside, their family always stood strong and displayed the utmost love and affection, but looking back I can recall the difficulty he had when interacting with others and how it impacted the parents. In recent years, working in the hospital has exposed me to a greater population of individuals with physical impairments. From amputees to paraplegics, interacting with such hopeful individuals makes the work worthwhile. Despite my exposure to these people, I will never understand what it feels like to be in their shoes. Many patients refuse to call for help when having difficulty completing tasks, as they don't want to feel like a hindranc