JMRemarks

Governor’s Coalition

for Youth with Disabilities (GCYD)

Remarks by Jack Matthews,

Director, Human Services Department Goodwin College

May 21, 2010

Governor’s Coalition for Youth with Disabilities

Scholarship Awards 2010

If you never have dreams, you’ll never have dreams come true!

Each of you who is being honored with a scholarship today has dreams. You’ve shared them with us, the board of the Governor’s Coalition for Youth with Disabilities. I’d like to share them with everyone who is gathered here for this celebration.

1. Eric Clemente dreams of a career in Plumbing & Heating

2. Nathaniel Book dreams of a career in Computer Science

3. Ryan Jones dreams of a career in Creative Writing

4. Mark Redekas dreams of becoming an Auto Mechanic

5. Steven Celadon dreams of becoming a Counselor

6. Lauren Gomez dreams of a career in Special Education

7. Kevin Dydyn dreams of a career in Culinary Arts

8. Jennifer Green dreams of a career using her skills in Spanish

9. Hannah Beer dreams of a successful career as she pursues her Liberal Arts degree

10. Christina Mazzatti dreams of a career in Education

11. Felicia King dreams of a career in Education

12. Samuel Chomet dreams of a career in Computer Science

13. Dana Ramanauskas dreams of a career in Education

14. Mark Selavka dreams of a career in History

15. Mark Feola dreams of becoming a Nurse

16. James Van Beckum dreams of a career in Culinary Arts

17. Alejandro Cruz dreams of a career in Youth Development

18. Heather Thomas dreams of a career in Secondary Education

19. Adam Hunt dreams of a successful career upon completion of college where he will begin in General Studies; and,

20. Alexis Cortes dreams of becoming a Nurse

There are others who had dreams:

A man who was deaf dreamed that he could compose great music, and Ludwig Van Beethoven did.

A woman who was dyslexic dreamed that she could become the world’s best selling book writer, and Agatha Christie did.

A man who was blind and could not read music dreamed that he could none-the-less become a renowned pianist, and Ray Charles did.

A woman who was autistic dreamed of making significant changes in the animal science field and went on to invent systems and procedures that are now used nationwide. Temple Grandin did that and she is now a professor at Colorado State University.

A man with epilepsy dreamed that he could be a chemist, an engineer and an inventor, and Alfred Nobel, who established the Nobel Prizes, did.

A woman who stuttered dreamed that she could become a great actress, and Julia Roberts did.

A man who had a learning disability dreamed that he could become a famous stockbroker, and Charles Schwab did.

A man who had polio dreamed that he could become President of the United States of America; and Franklin Delano Roosevelt did.

Do we think of these individuals in terms of their disabilities? No, we don’t. Just as these individuals were defined not by their disabilities but rather by their abilities and their accomplishments, so too will you be defined by your abilities and by what you achieve.

The road to get there, however, won’t necessarily be easy. You will be challenged. But each of you has faced challenges before and has learned how to overcome them. In part, that’s why you are being honored here today.

I teach at Goodwin College and I’d like to share with you something that I share with my students on their first day of class: “Keys to Success in College”:

1. College is hard work – study, study, study

2. Come to class prepared

3. Write things down

4. Maintain a positive attitude

5. Show respect for your professors

6. Respect yourself and your classmates

7. Get help when you need it

8. Assume responsibility

9. Plan ahead and plan for the unexpected; and finally, remember. . .

10. You earn your grades, your professor merely records them

Remembering and following these suggestions can see you through to your college graduation day.

Governor Rell, representatives from the various branches of government, family members, friends, and members of the board of the Governor’s Coalition for Youth with Disabilities who are gathered here this morning congratulate you and are confident that you can fulfill your dreams. We wish each of you the best of luck on your journey.

In closing I’d like to leave you with some words that those of you who are familiar with Walt Disney and his wonderful creations will probably recognize:

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of

Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through.

When you wish upon a star