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Ask any student or teacher at East Valley Middle School and they will tell you that everyone looks up to Michelle Kazuba.
The eighth grader may not tower over her classmates – most of whom are at least a foot taller – but as a track athlete, violinist, academic standout and member of the school’s leadership team, Kazuba has established herself as one of East Valley’s best.
“She’s smart and has a good sense of humor,” said EVMS teacher Julie Scott. “Nobody treats her any differently. She’s just Michelle. She fits in like any other student.”
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| East Valley Middle School student Michelle Kazuba (left) participates on the track team, is a member of Team St. Luke’s and has hopes of competing in the 2012 Paralympics in London. Julie Scott, EVMS teacher and track coach, is to the right. |
This year, Kazuba turned out for the track team. She throws the shot put and javelin, events she also competes in for Team St. Luke’s, a Spokane-based sports club comprised of athletes with physical disabilities.
Last week, in a meet at Central Valley High School, Kazuba competed against athletes from Evergreen and Horizon middle schools. When not involved in her events, she cheered on friends and fellow athletes from East Valley with a radiant smile that glowed through the blustery conditions on the field.
“Michelle contributes points for us,” said Scott, who coaches the EVMS track squad. “Just her being there and competing has contributed to our team.”
Participating in sports has not always been the norm for Kazuba. Even though she was a snow skier growing up, it wasn’t until she joined the St. Luke’s squad as a middle school student that Kazuba became part of a team.
“Sports have really changed her,” said Sylvia Lundquist, Michelle’s mom. “Being involved in sports have helped her with academics and she’s now a lot more outgoing.”
Last year, Kazuba competed in the National Junior Disability Games at Rutgers University in New Jersey. In addition to the shot put, javelin and discus, she participated in two swimming events – a feat that would have been impossible a year earlier since Kazuba didn’t know how to swim.
“I’m pretty competitive,” Michelle said. “But for me, it’s more about improving my time than winning against other people.”
Michelle will be part of the 2009 Junior National Disability Games in St. Louis this summer. She also hopes to qualify for an international competition in Edmonton in late July. The 2012 Paralympics in London remain a long-term goal.
As a member of Spokane Area Swimming, Kazuba participates in events throughout the Northwest. Her first competition took place in Seattle last April.
“I was nervous,” Michelle said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it across the pool – but I did it. I guess I surprised myself.”
Sylvia said she has made it a point to encourage Michelle to concentrate on her potential, not what people think she can’t do. Both Team St. Luke’s and Spokane Area Swimming, Sylvia said, have made a significant difference “by accepting her and making her feel part of a team.”
Teresa Skinner, program director for Team St. Lukes, said Michelle has made “tremendous progress” since joining the team two years ago.
“She’s an example of how kids and families who stick with the program go through amazing changes,” Skinner said. “They’re so many things they learn from sports – how to deal with challenges, how to set goals and achieve them.”
When people make comments about Michelle’s height, Sylvia chalks it up as “a lack of understanding.”
“It happens,” Sylvia said. “We’ve had times when it’s been difficult – but it’s just verbiage. I’ve just always told her to be confident in who she is.”
Each year, Michelle attends a national convention sponsored by a nonprofit organization called Little People of America, a group “that provides support and information to people of short stature and their families.”
“The people there have the same everyday problems as I do,” Michelle said. “They know what I feel like.”
Those everyday challenges include people who take for granted that Michelle can walk the same distances as those with longer strides or reach an item on the upper shelf of a grocery store. Above all, though, Michelle makes it clear that scaling to extraordinary heights is a matter of focus and determination.
“If things don’t work out at first you’ve got to keep working and not dwell on it,” Michelle said. “I talk to kids with disabilities who don’t think they can play sports or do other things. It’s really about believing in yourself and doing your best.”
Want to find out more?
To learn more about Team St. Luke’s, call 999-6466 or visit www.stlukes.org.
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By
Craig Howard
