First in a series

Teenager doesn't let failing eyesight limit her

Eighth grader Christine Parsons ran the hurdles for the first time in gym class last month. That's not so special until you know Christine is almost blind.

A congenital eye weakness limits her vision so she regularly uses a long cane to move around her school. The 14-year-old attends Northwest Valley Middle School in House Springs.

But, she's determined not to let her vision problems interfere with her plans for a full life.

Her accomplishments so far indicate she's well on her way. Last month, she received a Gateway 2002 Young Achiever of the Year award. She is now entered in the national Young Achiever of the Year competition.

(In coming months, Young Saint Louis.com will feature profiles on the four elementary and four middle school achievers. For an earlier achiever article, click here.)

Christine admits she's a bit of a worrier. But, she added, "I don't worry about total blindness any more. I worry about weird stuff. All my worries are little ones."

For instance, she's worried now whether she wants to go to Six Flags. That's because her best friend has decided not to go. "I don't know whether I want to go alone," she said.

She's already done lots of things outdoors. She's been horseback riding, rock climbing, rappelling and snow skiing at Hidden Valley.

She broke into a big smile when telling about her first effort to ride a bicycle. "I ran into a mail box," she said.

One of the organizations she's joined is the Delta Gamma Foundation's Youth Group. The foundation brings together families with sight-impaired kids so they can share experiences.

"I was on a panel of older kids who were talking with families with younger kids. We were telling them how they're going to be able to be just like other kids," Christine said.

She said her condition actually has brought her wide recognition at school. "More kids know who I am than I know who they are," she said.

Last year, she was asked to represent her 7th grade class in a talk to the Northwest R-1 School board. Her topic wasn't her vision. "They wanted me to talk to younger kids about what a big change it was to enter middle school. That's the first time most kids have ever changed classrooms during the school day," she said.

Christine will be in the changing-school position next year as she enters high school.

"I was a little worried about that. But, I went up there and I'm already able to get around. After all, it's only one building. When I came to middle school, I had five or six buildings to handle," she said.

That's Christine's way of doing. She meets the problems head-on. "I try to set goals and then I'm determined to do them," she said.

She is a regular on the school honor rolls. Here, technology--and a special helper--aid her. Christine carries a Braille 'N Speak device to school every day. This allows her to type in notes and make printouts in either Braille or in regular typing.

She added, "I've also got a person who brailles everything I need copied." That can include written homework assignments or other teacher handouts. Fran Wilkerson is employed by the school district to help sight-impaired students.

Teachers give Wilkerson assignment materials ahead of time. That way, Christine gets her Braille copy the same time other students get their printed copies.

Christine already decided her career goal. She wants to be an emergency room physician. She admits she got the idea from the TV show, "ER." She said, "I was addicted to it the first time." But, she added, "I also want to help people."

Another possible career is journalism. Her research helps her to learn about medicine.

Christine already has had three poems published, including one titled, "Peace for Everlasting." That was in the Anthology of Poetry, 2000, a collection of kids poems.

But, she said, "Mostly, I write novel-sort stories. I've got 80 pages written for a novel about a blind woman who's trying to be an emergency room doctor" Research for that book helps her learn more things about a potential career.

Christine has a role model among the staff at her school. Karen Beem is a part-time school nurse who has had two outbreaks of breast cancer.

"She's a fighter. She's not going to let anything stop her. She is sweet and understanding. You can talk to her about anything. She's everything I'd like to be," Christine said.