I wasn’t expected to walk. I wasn’t expected to talk.
A
fragile beginning
My name is Peter Michael Crimi. I was born nine weeks premature. The doctors gave me a 30% chance of surviving my first 72 hours.
I certainly wasn’t expected to be a teacher at the same school that I attended for therapy as a child. But here I am today, a staff member at P.G. Chambers School.
When I completed college, I was thinking that I would be a journalist – I would be Peter Jennings! But coming to P.G. Chambers School put me on another path. Yes, there was learning, and therapy, and more therapy. But it was so much more. I see my younger self every day in the children here. Back then no one – not my parents, my teachers, or my therapists – ever failed for a moment to see my potential. My awesomeness. I want the same for these children.
A
fragile beginning
My name is Peter Michael Crimi. I was born nine weeks premature. The doctors gave me a 30% chance of surviving my first 72 hours.
I certainly wasn’t expected to be a teacher at the same school that I attended for therapy as a child. But here I am today, a staff member at P.G. Chambers School.
Cerebral palsy has literally given me the opportunity to walk in our students’ shoes.
Yes, I have cerebral palsy, but that is not who I am. It does not define me.
Cerebral palsy helps me to understand how difficult it is sometimes to move, to listen, to be in the world.
I want you to see me as someone who tries every single day to work hard, live a life of good character, help others, walk lightly upon the earth, and put as much awesome out into the world as possible.
I feel tired carrying my body around every day. These children feel the same tiredness. I feel angry sometimes. I know they feel angry too.
WE love Peter !
The Children’s Center – the P.G. Chambers School of 20+ years ago – shaped my life and made me the person I am today. And it continues to change and shape my life.
A
fragile beginning
My name is Peter Michael Crimi. I was born nine weeks premature. The doctors gave me a 30% chance of surviving my first 72 hours.
I certainly wasn’t expected to be a teacher at the same school that I attended for therapy as a child. But here I am today, a staff member at P.G. Chambers School.
SO WE ME Cerebral palsy has literally given me the opportunity to walk in our students’ shoes.
Cerebral palsy helps me to understand how difficult it is sometimes to move, to listen, to be in the world. I feel tired carrying my body around every day. These children feel the same tiredness.
much potential
I feel angry sometimes. I know they feel angry too.
love Peter !
I have felt defeated. I want them to know this, and to move past the defeat and into the hope, as I have. Because I do have great, wonderful, awesome hope – for all of them and for myself.
My hope is that you too will see your own awesomeness by being part of what we do every day here at P.G. Chambers School. With a visit to our school, with time for our students, with a gift to help continue what we do here. And don’t forget to be awesome… it will change your life.
CP does not define
Cerebral palsy allows me to be the person in their corner. And to draw them out of their corners. To push them to see their opportunities in the world. To see and put out their own awesomeness!
Our gift to you is this “Don’t Forget to Be Awesome” poster. Please pass it on to an awesome person in your life, or post it yourself, as a daily reminder of the unique potential in each of us.
Peter is a graduate of Seton Hall University and worked at PGCS for five years as an assistant technology teacher before joining the development team this year as an associate. Peter’s skills, natural charm, and enormous capacity for empathy, along with his life experiences, make him an effective ambassador for our school. He is also developing his skills as a motivational speaker, having presented at several universities, conferences, and events. Peter challenges himself daily through CrossFit training at Heroes Journey, a unique physical fitness facility in Lake Parsippany, New Jersey. You can read Peter’s blog at ACharacterAboveAll.com and visit his Facebook page at Facebook.com/ PeterMCrimi. 15 Halko Drive, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927 973.829.8484 • www.chambersschool.org facebook.com/PGChambersSchool
“Put as much awesome out into the world as possible.” - Peter Michael Cr imi
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www.chambersschool.org