Michele LuJan is a 22-year-old Bakersfield College student who has cerebral palsy and a learning disability.? Through working out at the BC Gym with a BC instructor, she’s served as a source of inspiration and improved her physical health.
Cerebral palsy affects her life every day.? Not only do the physical aspects make getting around difficult, but even being a student she notices her condition affecting her.
“Appearancewise is a huge misconception,” she said. “When you walk into a classroom and sit down, people see you as a disabled person and automatically assume you don’t know as much.” ?
With a learning disability, she feels it’s just another reason to work harder.? “Everyone has a struggle,” she said. “This just happens to be my struggle.? It just means I have to work harder to overcome it.”
This is her third semester at BC, and LuJan says she currently has a 3.0 GPA.?
“In high school, several people in the disabled program told me I wouldn’t be able to make it in a college setting.? It just made me more determined.”?
Monica LuJan, Michele’s younger sister who is also a BC student, noticed in high school people treated her sister differently because of her condition.?
“She’s not stupid,” she said. “I hear people talk to her all the time like she’s stupid.? She’s smarter than most people.? We went to high school together, and I would see people not hold doors open for her, slam it on her.? It makes me mad.”
Michele LuJan noticed people treat her differently because of her physical condition.?
“It’s stressful.? I feel like I have to work harder to overcome that immediate, first, initial judgment people make.”?
Even in public places, she’s experienced discrimination.? “When I was shopping for school supplies this semester, a little girl asked her dad why I was walking funny.? I overheard her dad not to ask me, because I wouldn’t know what I was talking about.”?
After having a foot surgery done, she made the decision she wanted to get in better physical shape.? This is her second semester being in the BC Gym.? Working with BC instructors, she has been able to make vast improvements in her health beyond her original expectations.
“When I first started I could barely do 10 minutes on the treadmill with no incline,” she said. “Now I can do 35.”
Kathy Moretti, a BC instructor, has helped her along with her goal.?
Lujan said, “She really helps me.? Now she constantly has to watch me because I’m always increasing my incline or speed.”
The highlight of LuJan’s days are spent in the gym.?
“If I could work out all day in the BC Gym, I would be so happy.”?
Her fitness goal has turned into a passion.? “I wish I could spend all my time working out.”
LuJan hopes to inspire and encourage others with any disability or struggle with her story.
“I want people to see my condition and say to themselves, ‘She did it, I can too.’? I want to change that misconception people have.”? By the end of the semester, she hopes to hit the five-mile mark on the treadmill.?
“My confidence has gotten better,” she said. “I never thought I would be up on that treadmill. ? I had to be stopped the other day because I was going for my second mile.” ?
By setting high expectations, LuJan said she worked until she can achieve them.?
“For any person who has a disability or struggle,” she said, “find supportive people around you and hold on to them.? For any person who picks up this paper who has a disability, don’t let anyone’s misconceptions stop you.? You’ll never know what you are capable of.” ?