Summer Archives

Chris Chew Nashville, TN - Next Steps at Vanderbilt University

Don't Sweat It

It was a hot ninety-five-degree afternoon as we walked slowly across Wyatt Lawn. My attention was stretched thin as I juggled hurrying the group, rolling the lunch cooler and first-aid kit with one hand, holding my counselor binder pressed under my armpit, and guiding Darko with my other arm. My only goal was to make sure that all nineteen students made it to the Kennedy Center at least somewhat on-time. I was serving as the lead counselor for the Next Steps Summer Institute, a week long over-night summer camp for the incoming Next Steps students. Battling a week’s worth of sleepless nights with the constant pressure of ensuring the safety of the Next Steps students, the scorching 1 o’clock heat was tugging at my last straw.

It only got worse when two counselors ran over to inform me that Rob—one of our nonverbal students—wandered back to the dorm (the opposite direction of the Kennedy Center). Frustration dawned upon me realizing that the two counselors catching up to Rob only left us with a lower ratio of counselors to students. As I looked over to Darko squinting to prevent the sweat on my forehead from getting into my eyes, all I saw was an ear-to-ear smile on Darko’s content face and heard a quiet but barely audible laugh. When I asked why he was smiling, he responded, “Rob is very funny. I am happy to be in college.” In addition to his grin, Darko wore long pants and a long sleeve shirt and carried his cane to help him navigate due to his severe visual impairment. Astounded, I asked him how he wasn’t burning up—concerned as to whether I needed to ask him to change into cooler clothes or if I was just a giant wimp who couldn’t handle the heat. The answer turned out to be the latter as he responded, “It’s not bad here, much cooler than back where I am from.”

Darko was born in the Middle East in the country of Kyrgyzstan. He was born with intellectual disability and began to develop a visual impairment at the age of eight. During this time, Darko and his family were forced to move to Tennessee in order to take advantage of opportunities for students with special needs such as Next Steps. Powerful moments such as these remind me of the sacrifice many students and their families have made to be a part of the Next Steps program. These stories have made me realize the magnitude of the impact transition programs such as Next Steps have made on our students.

The valuable friendships I formed with Darko as well as the other Next Steps students during the Summer Institute have forced me to deeply reflect on my service as well as refocus my passion towards special needs advocacy. Darko’s optimistic attitude throughout the entire week of the Summer Institute amidst the many challenges he has overcome has taught me to be grateful for all the blessings we have in life. Darko was right—it really is a blessing to have a college experience and I am grateful every day that I get to share mine with him.

For more, please visit Next Steps.