9 minute read
FEATURES
Mr. HHS disproves stereotypes Features Persistance
AAs the stage lights illuminated his face, beads of sweat dripped across his brow. It was time for the talent portion of the Mr.HHS competition. He had prepared an interactive comedy bit that included a self-made video. The crowd went wild, reacting to every joke and even collectively “awh”ing during the dramatic part. Everyone in the room had their eyes on the stage.
Advertisement
On Feb. 6, the Performing Arts Center at Huntley High School was filled with family and friends attending the Mr.HHS pageant. Almost e veryone in the room had the same experience, a night full of laughter and entertainment, but for senior Blake Kellinger, the night will be remembered forever.
Kellinger went home that night with a new title, Mr.HHS 2020. The win, for anyone, is a big accomplishment but for Kellinger the win meant much more. Since the day he was born, Kellinger has fought a sensory processing disorder where he suffers from attacks d ue to sensory overload.
Since Blake was three weeks old his mother, Cory Kellinger, and father, Jason Kellinger, knew their child was By Ashley Reilly
struggling. As an infant Blake had trouble sleeping, later they would find out this was due to Blakes disorder but at the moment all they knew was something wasn’t right. Their little boy was social, quietly curious, and unique. Cory recalls one story as one of Blake’s more defining moments. When he was a child, he was a rule follower. If you told him to stop, he did, but he also wanted to know why.
“You would tell him don’t crawl through the window, and he would go ‘ok,’” Cory said. “Months would go by and he would see something that would interest him and he wouldn’t ask me why can’t he do it, he would just do it. But he didn’t do it out of defiance, but out of curiosity.” Like all parents, Cory and Jason have thousands of memories of their blue-eyed little boy, from little laughs to big stories they can always reflect on happy times. This adorable, and seemingly normal little boy, was fighting a battle not many knew about. W hen Blake was around 14 months old he suddenly stopped speaking. “He was diagnosed with Autism, and then we had him re-diagnosed because the main characteristic of Autism is a lack of social skills,” Cory said. “Clearly, he doesn’t have any social issues, it was just the processing piece of it.”
Knowing that the diagnosis was incorrect, they kept searching for the right answers. Blake was brought to a doctor that was leading research in sensory disorders, it was then that he was correctly diagnosed.
Every day our brains intake and process what we see, smell, feel, hear, and taste. The majority of us are born knowing how to do this, but with Blake’s condition his brain did not know how to process any of these.
“I can get overwhelmed sometimes a little faster than others. I get really stressed out, my mind’s rushing and I feel a massive amount of guilt,” Blake said. “I remember as a little kid it was really bad, talking was tough. I’m an outgoing guy, even when I was little, but it was hard to fit in. People made fun of me, I was definitely bullied for Senior Blake Kellinger is the first Mr.HHS with sensory disorder [ ] “When they interacted with my talent I felt proud, I’m so happy that people got into it because it shows who I am.” Blake Kellinger
it.”
This disorder brought challenges into Blake’s life that not many other children face. From having to learn to control his sensory meltdowns to facing discrimination and bullying for his uncontrollable disorder Blake was pushing through a tough battle. Blake moved into Lake in the Hills in 2013 in pursuit of a great an amazing school district and a supportive community, and he found both. “I didn’t feel like I was alone. I didn’t feel separated from others, I felt normal,” Blake said. “Sure I still go through struggles today but we have been through so much to help keep my sensory down.” Throughout the years of fighting his disorder, Blake has found multiple ways to help control his symptoms. He uses aromatherapy with essential oil diffusers, using scents that create a relaxing atmosphere to help calm his senses. Also, to help with his sleeping, Blake takes melatonin every night to ensure he can fall, and stay, asleep. When Blake has an especially hard day he takes a dissolving supplement that helps to fully relax his body.
“My mom always says ‘Sensory doesn’t control you, you control the sensory.’ It may be tough at times because of obstacles, but you just got to learn where you are and keep being strong. It’s never easy,” Blake said.
Despite all of the negatives that come with the disorder, there is one positive that Blake has found: he can easily connect to anyone fighting a disability alongside him. Whether it is someone with a more severe or less severe disability, Blake has always found a community within those fighting a similar battle.
“I know what it feels like, maybe not as much as other kids do, but I know what it feels like and sometimes I know how to help,” Blake said. With Blake’s original diagnosis his parents were told all the things Blake would never do, from never speaking to never holding a job their heads were filled with fears.
“I’m a pretty driven person myself so when they told me he can’t do something, I said to watch him,” Cory said.
And prove them wrong he did. Blake has become a vital piece of multiple programs here at Huntley High School. Not only does Blake hold the title of Mr. HHS 2020, but he also is a Link Crew Commissioner, A member of Raider Nation News,
a member of Leadership Greater McHenry County, and a friend to all. Despite the diagnosis, meltdowns, bullies, disbelievers, and constant challengers Blake has preserved. His heart is made of gold, his smile lights up a room. There is no one quite as personable and lovable as Blake Kellinger.
Sacrificing for new opportunities Features Immigrant
HHe is overcome with warmth as the radiating sun hits his naturally tanned skin. The salty breeze of the ocean engulfs him as he overlooks the rivers and the conspicuously made Japanese buildings. Plantations scattered around and the mountains are so tall and steep that the peaks seem to reach the clouds. This is Mogi das Cruzes in the state of São Paulo, within the diverse country of Brazil. Lucas Silva Favorito, a 19-year-old Huntley High School senior, moved to the US to live with his father and step-mother when he was 16 years old. “We packed up and went to the US. It was hard. I had to leave my whole family,” Favorito said. At first, his family went to live in Michigan. That had lasted for a total of four months. Soon after, his family packed up and moved to Illinois. Favorito would attend classes at Crystal Lake South in the mornings, then Crystal Lake Central in the evenings. When he moved here he only knew how to say a few things in English. His first language is Portuguese, he had to use a computer to translate what he wanted to say. “When I was a kid I used to dream about moving to the US,” Favorito said. When Favorito moved here, he had to face plenty of hardships. Leaving his 11-year-old sister and mother was the hardest. He was saddened at the fact that he had to leave, and it took a toll on the entire family. Favorito gets to video chat with them twice a week and only gets to see them once or twice a year back in Brazil. However, moving here gave him better opportunities and a safer place to live. Favorito recalls some memories of dangerous occurrences back home. “Back in Brazil, people get robbed in the streets almost every day. We don’t have rules for not bringing guns in school, and sometimes people would bring guns in. It’s dangerous,” Favorito said. Although Favorito faced these hardships that most teenagers do not have to worry about, he was able to continue doing what he loves: Art. He has been creating art for as long as he can remember and is learning to educate himself. Back home he took time studying graffiti. It was something he was able to do with friends. “I did graffiti for 8 months. I saw this one kid on YouTube doing graffiti and then I wanted to try it,” Favorito said. “Some of my friends were doing a project with graffiti and I started drawing at home. They saw them and thought that they were cool. Then we made my drawings into that project, then transferred it onto the wall.” This love for art has grown since he has come to the US. He started practicing tattooing, something he hopes to do after he graduates from HHS. Favorito has taken multiple art classes here and in his past schools. He uses all different mediums for his work. Another passion of his has been Jiu-Jitsu, which is a form of martial arts that he did back in Brazil. That is what made Favorito want to try wrestling when he moved here. Not only does he have all of these strong passions, he loves to learn. He maintains a high grade point average and has developed a close relationship with quite a few of his teachers. Favorito enjoys English and Woodworking and has gotten close to Kinsey Wright, his English teacher. “Lucas is a wonderful addition to our classroom. He has a great sense of humor, works well with other students, and is extremely polite,” Wright said. Wright is the teacher for students who have English as a Second Language and has watched Favorito grow in the classroom and make plenty of friends. Overall, moving to the U.S. was hard for him, but staying here has allowed him to flourish. It gave him the ability to find his true passion and do what he loves. “His artwork is amazing and I know that whenever he begins tattooing, it won’t be long before he owns his own shop,” Wright said. “He is going to go super far in life with the talent, skills, and personality that he has.” Lucas Silva Favorito leaves everything behind for a better future By Olivia Mack
[ ] “When I was a kid, I used to dream about movin to the US.” Lucas Silva Favorito
