Dear Rickets,

Overcoming you was the biggest challenge of my life. Rickets means I lack vitamin D, causing my bones to be fragile, and stunting growth in all areas, including the eyes and teeth. And I was "blessed" with you. Although you gave me a hard time in the beginning, you helped me become who I am. Doctors thought that I wouldn’t be able to be like a normal girl. The challenges I faced made me who I am today.

I was adopted in Anhwei, China when I was 11 months old. I was the equivalent to a four month-old baby in weight, intelligence, and growth, because of you. The soft spot on the top of my head was open because my body didn’t have enough nutrients to close it. My family called me “Square Head Alex” because I had a flat, bald head. They brought me to doctors who said, “She will probably be able to walk, but don't expect much else.” However, my parents refused to give up on me, and provided me with the best chance to succeed. I began with physical therapy, five days a week. When the doorbell rang, I cried because I knew it was time to walk, and I didn’t want to because it hurt my muscles. My speech therapist, Roberta, had me do vocal exercises to talk. I had to get my nutrition up, so my grandmother retired to take care of me, and make me food such as pea soup. After a year of this intense project, I began to grow. I gained weight, my head finally closed, and I grew hair.

Because of you, when I started school, the letters on the page would move, and as a kindergartener, I thought that’s how people saw, so I kept it a secret. My Aunt Patty helped me with my homework. Doing homework was a struggle because I couldn’t read; I threw my pencil at her because I couldn’t write the letter A.

I played basketball, and I fell in love with it. But, when the basket started moving, I saw two rims. You not only affected me on the court, but also in school. My classmate, Marie, bullied me. She laughed at me because I was getting poor grades, and being Asian was a “sin” according to her, because all Asians had to receive good grades, especially in math. At recess, she pointed and laughed at me, took my failing tests, and showed them to my class, and then, the class would laugh. She made me hate my nationality.

Mr. Goldblat was my fourth grade teacher; he also tutored me. Thanks to his dedication, my grades improved. I had someone who supported me. I went to a special eye doctor who gave me exercises to make my eyes stronger. However, they would hurt my brain and give me headaches. The doctor also gave me glasses. That. Was. The. End. When I went to middle school, she now bullied me because of my glasses. She said, “You need glasses because your Asian brain can't take the school work!” I was tired of getting bullied so I stopped wearing my glasses and doing my eye exercises, and began to fail my classes again. I felt like I couldn’t do anything right.

In sixth grade, I decided to read a 300-page book. When I started reading, I could read only five pages before my eyes hurt. As time went on, I could read more pages. By the time I finished the book, I could read a 20-page chapter without any pain.

I started playing church basketball. I was the worst player on my team, and needed to improve. I practiced layups and dribbled a basketball every day. Soon, I was getting 20 points a game, and, during one game, shot a three-pointer at the buzzer in the last quarter to get us into the playoffs. I realized that playing on only one team was not good enough for me. So, I played on three teams, and was the starter for all three. I felt like I found my place.

Then, I acted. My breakout role was as a solo dancer in the play, "Aladdin," as a magic carpet. My fellow cast mates made me feel more confident, so I ignored my bully, who continued to taunt me. I thought, Why should I care what she says when other people like me? Because of my confidence, I auditioned for more plays. I acted in plays produced by outside theatre companies, such as Showstoppers. For my first lead role, I sang "Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.” Roberta, my speech teacher, was in the front row, crying. I remember looking at her and feeling as if I could do anything. I felt invincible.

I learned not to listen to people because of you. I thought, Why would they know my abilities? They aren’t me. I didn’t let others define me or limit what I could and couldn't do.

I went through pain for happiness, whether it was because I had to walk around the block, or get my feelings hurt because I wasn't the smartest in the class. All the activities I chose were done intentionally to conquer you; I read a 300-page book, built muscle by practicing basketball every day, and learned to not only speak, but also act and sing in front of an audience. The obstacles you made me face made me who I am today. So, in the end, thank you; thank you for making me strong, thank you for making me face challenge, and thank you for making me who I am today.

Sincerely,
The girl you helped in the end.