Label Me Not: Different

The wind rushes by, it licks his face as he stands, erect, and concentrates on the small black ball gripped in his hands. He throws, and the shot-put soars through the air.This is Junior Kevin Hamilton, member of the Samo Track and Field team and a Special Education student. Kevin has been my friend since my freshman year when I signed up to participate in Circle of Friends.When I sat down that first day with my lunch pail in hand, I was terrified. All my preconceived notions about who we were, how different we were, fueled by all the labels that had attached me and followed him throughout our lives, rushed into my head. How would we connect; what would we talk about? I felt as if we were on two sides of an impassible gorge.I mumbled hello and his friendly face broke into a shy smile. “Hello, I’m Kevin.” Soon we were talking - just talking, I don’t remember half of what we talked about that first day, but I do remember talking and laughing and discovering things about myself as I learned about his life. I found out that we were both on Track and Field, he throwing shot-put and I running short distance. I found out that we weren’t so different after all.The separation between Special Education and General Ed. has created an environment where we view each other not only as people with slight differences, but as people part of two entirely different species.We are separated by the lines that are drawn between us, by us, by others and even by the educational system that promotes unity amongst all students. Maybe if we can see our commonalities rather than the labels that tear us apart; sitting down to have lunch with someone who is “different” wont be nearly as daunting.Rebecca AsoulinStaff Writer