3 minute read
LIVING PROOF
by Jen Wingerter ’13
Jacob Flynn ’21 grew up in Mt Sterling, Illinois. Born at only 24 weeks, he weighed a tiny three pounds and half an ounce and spent the first six weeks of his life in a Springfield hospital. As a result of complications from his premature birth, Jacob has Cerebral Palsy (CP).
“There is an assumption that all people with CP have the same limitations, but that is not true,” said Jacob’s mom Cherry Flynn. “I’ve told him since he was little how blessed he is. So many children who have CP are a lot worse. I don’t want him to feel sorry for himself. We can deal with physical limitations.”
Growing up, he faced his limitations with ingenuity. Jacob taught himself to do many things using one hand. From learning how to hold a pencil or figuring out how to use a game controller to play Call of Duty, Jacob has pushed himself to the limit.
“I learned mostly by trial and error,” said Jacob. “I’ve gotten better each year, figuring out ways that work best.”
-Jacob Flynn
ENCOURAGEMENT TO SUCCESS
He didn’t travel his path to success alone. His aide and mother were a continual encouragement throughout his childhood and teenage years.
“They believed in me from day one and pushed me to be who I am today,” said Jacob. “They believed I could go to college before I believed I could.”
Jacob had the privilege of having Karen DeWitt as his aide from preschool through his senior year in high school. “We knew each other well. It was a blessing,” said Jacob. “She helped me up until the day I graduated.”
Jacob also credits his success to some great teachers throughout his childhood and college years. “Each one taught me something I needed to know and helped get me here,” said Jacob. “All my professors are great. They teach you things that you know you will carry forever.”
“I told my mother multiple times, I’m not going to leave my room,” said Jacob. “I was bullied most of my high school years. Even though my mom told me it was going to be different than high school, I had that mindset going into orientation.”
His road to QU wasn’t without its bumps. It was in his senior year of high school that his mom realized she would be going to college with him. Once Jacob turned 18, he would no longer be eligible for a 24-hour aide. Cherry knew the little assistance he could get wouldn’t be enough for Jacob to have a successful college experience. So she started making plans to join him on campus. They now share a suite on the first floor of Padua Hall during the week and then travel home on the weekends so Cherry can work. “Not everyone brings their mother to college with them, but it has been better than I thought,” Jacob joked. “We work together pretty well.”
He wasn’t always as optimistic about the arrangements. Jacob dreaded freshman orientation.
The first activity required a partner, and suddenly Jacob felt like he was back in high school.
“I was sitting alone, and I’m thinking great, here we go again, but then a student came across the room and made me feel like I was what he wanted in a partner” said Jacob. “He treated me like any other student.”
Another student crossed the room at lunch to greet Jacob. She wasn’t sure how to approach him, but she did it anyway. It was a great gift that Jacob encourages everyone to give.
“Go talk to the person, make them feel welcome, make them feel like they belong,” said Jacob. “The best thing you can give them is that feeling that they aren’t alone.”
Finishing up his final semester at QU, Jacob is excited about his future and surprised how fast the past four years have gone. He hopes to pursue work at a museum.
He wants to leave a message for those who come after him. “I want to say this not only for me but for the students like me who come after me. You can do this. You can go to college. You can succeed. I’m living proof of that.”
INVOLVEMENT:
2020 Lincoln Laureate Scholar
Member of the CEO Club
National Criminal Justice Honor Society
Students for Life
Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
