Recently I've been thinking a lot about how having a disability has shaped me into the person that I am today, so I decided to write a poem about it.

Just because I have a physical disability, doesn't mean I'm as not intelligent as a fully able-bodied person. In fact, the two aren't even correlated.

And it also doesn't mean that I'm not a "normal" 21-year-old girl.

Believe or not, I thoroughly enjoy binge-watching Netflix, shopping, and discussing the latest "Grey's Anatomy" episode as much as every other girl my age.

Just because I have a physical disability does not mean you can talk to me like I am 5 years old. Actually, I cringe every single time someone does, and to be honest, it's really degrading and humiliating. So, the next time you see me or someone else who has a physical disability out in public, please, I beg of you, if nothing else, talk to us like we're young adults, not small children.

Just because I have a physical disability doesn't mean I want to be "cured." Sure, having this disability isn't always the greatest, but I truly wouldn't be myself without it, it's a part of me and I am a stronger person because of my Cerebral Palsy. Speaking of being cured, there is no cure and you can't "catch it" because it's not a disease, it's a disability.

And just because I have a physical disability doesn't mean it's absolutely crazy that I am a successful college student, who attends a large university and is on the pre-law track. I think the majority of individuals who aren't that familiar with the disabled community at large believe that it is very unlikely for individuals with disabilities to attend college and be academically successful and that it is even more unlikely for them to further their education by obtaining a master's or professional degree.

So, with that in mind, when people who meet me realize that I have an extremely high grade point average and want to attend law school with the hopes of becoming an attorney, they are, more often than not, completely shocked. Which further supports the stereotype that individuals may hold: That people with disabilities are not usually seen as being people who are intelligent, successful, and who have big ambitions. Either that or they think that if they have goals of this magnitude, that it is virtually impossible for them to actually achieve those goals.

And finally and most importantly, just because I have a physical disability, it does not, by any means, define who I am as a person. Simply put, I am Morgan, I am not my disability. I am, however, a daughter, a college student, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, a friend, a dancer, a sorority sister, a fraternity brother, and a 21-year-old girl who is just trying to live her life to the fullest and reach her potential. My disability has never defined me and it never will. I am so much more than just a young woman with Cerebral Palsy, and the disabled community is made up of so much more than just disabled people, we are not just disabled people, but rather we are people, who just like everyone else, has a unique story to tell.