Adaptability.

After freshman year you get a choice of which gym class you want to take. A choice between life guarding, leaders, regular, or adapted/integrated. I chose adapted/integrated. It was probably one of the best choices I've made so far in high school.
You may be thinking "Michelle, what exactly is adapted/integrated p.e.?" Well, kind friend, adapted/ integrated p.e. is a gym class that combines the students at Palatine with regular abilities with those that have different abilities, or the physically handicapped. Let me tell you though, they are not handicapped at all. My class is on the smaller side. We only have 13 leaders and 4 buddies.(Leaders being those with regular abilities and buddies being those with different abilities.)
Last semester one of the buddies was so funny and always said what was on her mind. Everyone loved her and didn't think of her as different or lesser, but just as a classmate. Another one is a pretty cool dude. Earlier in the year when one of the leaders was having some boy troubles he threatened to run him over with his wheel chair or trip him with his crutches. Whenever i see him in the hall he tries to teach me a new handshake so i can be cool.
I don't like to say they have disabilities because for what they lack physically the make up for in personality. Also the R-word bugs me. Don't substitute is for stupid. Don't even say it referencing someone with different abilities. It's mean and if you really get to know someone like the buddies in my gym class you can learn a lot.
I love everyone in my gym class and would encourage everyone to get involved with or even get to know someone with different abilities than yourself.

--Michelle(: