With the recent surgery on her ankle, followed by crutches and a boot, senior Megan Parker has not only lost time dancing, but also discovered what it feels like to be disabled.
   Parker has danced for 11 years, seven of which have been point ballet. Due to the stress put on her ankle while dancing and a genetic condition known as “Genetic Hyper Flexibility,” Parker caused her tendons to tear which led to a surgery on October 10th and temporary disability afterward.
   “I miss being active,” Parker said.
   The situation she’s in has caused her to drastically change her daily life; there isn’t any more dancing, doing what she wants when she wants and independence.
   Parker explained that she has had to rely heavily on her parents to help her prepare her food, do laundry, etc.
   “Not being able to do things on your own (is) almost embarrassing,” Parker said.
   Whether it’s an embarrassing aspect or not, Parker has found that she now has a much more difficult time getting around GS. After her surgery, when crutches were necessary, using the stairs was out of the question. However, the alternative was not quite what she would have preferred.
   “The elevator is in the most inconvenient place,” Parker said.
   According to Parker, she’s had to go out of her way and take extra time just to use the elevator, which is located in mostly deserted hallways on all three floors.
   “The elevator needs to be in a better place,” Parker said. “Which obviously isn’t an easy fix.”
   Aside from the elevator, Parker has had trouble walking on the floor when it is slippery, both when using her crutches and boot. She suggested that better carpets could be placed at doorways to detract from the amount of water that comes into the school by way of shoes.
   Parker has also experienced stress due to travelling around school with her temporary disability, not because of the set up, but rather because of the students. She has worried about taking too long in the hall and then having to go through the hallways with careless teenagers.
      Parker’s boot came off in late December; after that, the future is not planned.
   “(We’re) taking it day by day, we’re not looking too far into the future,” Parker said.
   She doesn’t plan to return to the dance studio because by the time she is able to dance again, it will be summer and almost time for college. However, she does intend to join dance groups when in college.
   “Once a dancer, always a dancer,” Parker said, reciting a quote that she relates to. “I’ll never lose that.”
   While she is reassured after this experience of time off that she is still passionate about dancing, perhaps more importantly, Parker has learned how someone with a permanent disability goes through every day of their life.
   “It makes me appreciate how (people with disabilities) feel,” Parker said. “People don’t realize how hard it is.”