HEART TO HEART
UCF students provide cardiac care for Orlando’s homeless community
FALL 2016 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 1
Table of contents
13 Racing to History
Former UCF student Aric Almirola becomes first Cuban-American to win in all three NASCAR series.
Interesting 4 Cashing-in YouTubers Two UCF entrepreneurs capitalize on social media.
6 Real Meaning of Friendship
Enter the video game world with the Friends, Brothers and Colleagues.
8 Warm Fuzzy Feeling
A UCF student that has rescued and rehabiliated over 100 animals.
Impactful 10 Bridging Two Worlds
Monica Mishrigi’s story of overcoming obstacles to receive the education many take for granted.
14 Home Court Advantage
14 Hearts for the Homeless
UCF students devote their free time to giving free blood pressure screenings to Orlando’s homeless community.
A UCF senior utilizes his love for sports, music and service to give back in a big way.
Inspiring 16 Speaker Dixon After suffering a stroke, Alex Dixon travels across the country to give motivational speeches.
20 Knightly Welcomed
Explore how a student with down syndrome has successfully been immersed in UCF’s community.
Innovative 22 The Living Room Project
How having open conversations brings the UCF community together for honest dialogue.
Centric Magazine at UCF Centric | Page 2
18 Believing Despite the Pain An aspiring surgeon seeks to overcome her arthritis.
@CentricMagUCF
For more visit: NicholsonStudentMedia.com
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR This February, I was at an open house for the Nicholson School of Communication. As part of the Valentine’s Day-themed activities, communications students got to write what they love about NSC on Post-it notes and stick them on the wall. I stood there for quite some time reading the notes. They all said different things, but together they gave me one answer: the people. What NSC students love the most about their program are the professors and classmates they see on a daily basis. It’s true that the Nicholson School is full of amazing people. But that phenomenon isn’t confined to the communications kids (as much as we might like to believe so). There are interesting, inspiring and innovative people all over UCF. They’re scattered across campus and beyond. You’ll get to meet just a few of them in this issue. For the first time, we’ve organized our stories into the four I’s that are central to Centric’s mission: interesting, impactful, inspiring and innovative. The sections are marked by tabs on each story. I hope you connect with the people on our pages and remember that it’s the people in our community who make UCF so great. — Allison Miehl, Managing Editor
Meet the staff Managing Editor Allison Miehl Art Director Mike Gramajo Digital Producer Alexis Rose Vilaboy Social Media Producer Rachel LeBar Adviser Rick Brunson
Staff Writers Marc Sznapstajler Ben Sanders Amanda Osorio Ariadna Santos Casey Ryan Kristen Fiore Hilary Winocoor Josie Graham Alexis George Alyssa McComb Claudia Gesiotto Alyssa Hutchinson
Cover and back cover photos by Ariadna Santos Special thanks to: Jane Ingalls Debbie Doyle
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Photo by Alyssa McComb
Hit Upload: Business Launching a career on YouTube, Adam Lz has let his thrills pay his bills By Alyssa McComb Adam Lizotte-Zeisler, known online as Adam Lz, often finds himself going from one thrill to the next — and recording it for his fans. “I was 15 or 16 when I realized that I could make money with YouTube,” Lz said. “I don’t think I viewed it as a career opportunity until last year. Seeing the results of consistency and uploading regularly proved to me that I could make this into something reliable.” Lz is now 21, a senior business student at the University of Central Florida, a home and business owner and, of course, a YouTuber. YouTube started in 2005 as a simple online format to upload and share home videos for pure entertainment. Today, 11 years later, people like Lz are appealing to millions of viewers who flock to the site daily.
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Over a span of seven years, Lz has developed a business and a community of over a million subscribers — and still enjoys it every day. “YouTube reaches such a large audience, and it shows so many people that you can create a living off what you like to do,” Lz said. “It’s very empowering.” Lz’s first endeavor into merchandising started in his bedroom. Today, Lz has a total of six employees in a warehouse fulfilling an average of 400 orders a week. James Harvey, Lz’s store and brand manager for his merchandise, LZBMX, was happy to step in and help Lz upgrade his company to what it is today. “Adam is very trusting,” Harvey said. “He’s got a lot of faith in us and what we’re doing. He’s inspirational as a boss and to see how successful he is — it rubs off on you. It inspires you to do better with everything you’re doing.”
Regardless of monetary success and video view counts, at the end of the day, Lz is also a college student with obligations outside of the online world. Nicole Frye, Lz’s wife, described YouTube as a mixture of positive opportunities and negative backlash. Frye said she is thankful for all the site has done for her and Lz, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides to being watched by millions. “People think YouTube is very simple,” Frye said. “They don’t understand how much time and effort it takes. It’s very time consuming and a lot more different than what people just see.” For Lz, finishing at the University of Central Florida this December will be the final responsibility to complete before diving in fully to his online career.
Photo courtesy of Megan Bowen
ses Built Online Live from South Korea, Megan Bowen grows brand and business on YouTube By Alyssa Hutchinson In her living room more than 7,500 miles away, YouTuber and entrepreneur Megan Bowen greeted me from her home in Seoul, South Korea with a bright smile as we both adjusted the lighting for our Skype interview. With over 485,000 subscribers (as of Oct. 2016), this former Knight is making a name for herself in Korea through her growing YouTube channel and business ventures. On her channel, ChoNunMigookSaram (“I’m an American person” in Korean), Bowen documents her life abroad and highlights everything from exciting things to do in Seoul to important aspects of Korean culture. Aside from her life online, Bowen runs her own company called Gomi Co. Ltd. where she helps Korean businesses expand globally.
After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2011, Bowen had her dreams set on living abroad. Motivated by her newfound love for Korean culture, she packed up her life and settled into a new job as an English teacher in South Korea that same year. Her YouTube journey started six months later after constant questions from her family about her new life. Seeing the opportunities YouTube had to offer, she began taking it more seriously. “I started to see the business aspect of it. I feel like it’s the new wave of jobs, so to speak,” Bowen said. “Instead of making physical products or stores you can be an entrepreneur by making [online] content.” From YouTube she has been able to establish her own marketing and consulting business in Korea. She and her team work with other YouTubers to connect them with brand deals. They also consult
“I feel like it’s the new wave of jobs.” - Megan Bowen with Korean companies on how to market their products and services to Western audiences. She even lectures at Korean universities on the ways companies can utilize YouTube as a business tool. “Korea has just now caught on to YouTube, as of last year, and the marketing potential of using YouTube,” she said. In the future, Bowen hopes to expand her brand into the fashion and cosmetics industries. As her success leads to new projects, she is determined to continue her first passion: her YouTube channel.
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Papa Mink & Lad These gamers’ tournaments grew from living room gatherings to large-scale competitions— all founded on friendship and brotherhood
By Hilary Winocoor When the tournament begins, all eyes are glued to the television screens. Hands take their place on the controllers and the brawl is officially underway. But two people decked out in purple hoodies with cut-off sleeves and the names “Papa Mink” and “Lad” on their backs stand out. David Fine, who in the Super Smash Bros. world goes by “Lad,” is a senior information technology major at UCF, and Ryan Kane, “Papa Mink,” is a Valencia College alumnus. They are the founders and presidents of the FBC —Friends, Brothers, Colleagues — a place where friendship and brotherhood blossom through a common love for video games. FBC creates a place where the average and professional gamer can come together to play. “Lad” came from Fine’s appreciation for British culture early in his life. “Young Lad had a nice ring to it, but I just went with Lad,” Fine said. “I respond to Lad faster than David.” “Papa Mink” originates from Kane’s love of ferrets and
Photo by Hilary Winocoor David Fine (left) and Ryan Kane (right) are the founding members of the gaming circuit, “Friends, Brothers, Colleagues.” is all that would fit with the limited number of characters for a name on Super Smash. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a huge nerd or the coolest guy in the world,” Fine said. “If you want to hang out with us and be a part of the community we are creating, you can be a part of it.” FBC originated in Kane’s apartment years ago when Kane invited friends over to play and after realizing how much fun it was, he started advertising on forums and Facebook. He connected with Fine to attract more people, which is how they went from a few friends in an unfurnished apartment to now being able to fill up grand ballrooms in hotels with hundreds of players from all over the country. The tournaments FBC hosts are specifically catered toward players of Super Smash Bros., a series of crossover fighting games, featuring the most well known characters from Nintendo. “It was a party environment for a tournament series and that’s not something anyone else really presented,” Kane said.
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Being business-savvy college students has given Fine and Kane an upper hand. One of the main reasons their tournaments attract so many people is because they offer the biggest bang for the participant’s buck. “Road to Papa” is the the biggest tournament FBC hosts. It is set up with a bracket and as people win their matches they advance through until a winner is crowned. Unlike most of the other Super Smash Bros. tournaments, the tournament hosted by Fine and Kane doesn’t do instant elimination. Super Smash Bros. has a ranking system and points are awarded from this tournament.
Orlando is one of the biggest hubs for electronic sports, so Fine and Kane are in the right place. They are both ranked in their respected Super Smash Bros. games, and would love to do FBC tournaments full time. However it is not their full-time job at this point in time. “I can utilize all the skills I have learned in college and actually use them in real life,” Fine said. Staying true to their FBC motto of getting people together to create friendships and brotherhoods through video games, Fine and Kane are able to continually host tournaments with a successful turnout, because everyone feels welcome.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a huge nerd or the coolest guy in the world. If you want to hang out with us and be a part of the community we are creating, you can be a part of it.” - David Fine
Photo by Hilary Winocoor Ryan Kane, left, and David Fine, right, get ready to fight during a game night at Campus Cards & Games.
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Hunter, the Gatherer
UCF student Hunter Menning, along with his family, has rescued and rehabilitated more than 100 animals, including squirrels, ferrets and iguanas By Rachel LeBar “I stuck my hand into a hole in this tree and felt this little furry thing, and then I knew I found what I was looking for.” University of Central Florida senior Hunter Menning has many accomplishments to display on his résumé: Speech and debate, volunteering at the local church and founding a club at his school. But most important is animal rescuer. “We’ve rescued many different types of animals,” Menning said. “One of my first ones was a baby squirrel. It had been evident that its mother had passed away, and it was stuck in a tree crying for help. I had to climb into this tree and reach my hand into every groove until I eventually pulled out this baby squirrel whose eyes weren’t even open yet.” When Menning was in sixth grade, he and his family began volunteering at the local animal shelter in Bithlo, Florida. From there, they started working with animal control and have become well-known in the area for their efforts to help animals in need. “Usually, I will get a call from a friend or someone who knows about me or my family rescuing animals,” Menning said.
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“From there, I will go out to the location where the animal is, talk to their owner if it’s not an abandonment situation and rescue the animal in need.” After rehabilitating the animal, Menning and his family will try to get it adopted. “There are a lot of animals breeding in areas around us such as Bithlo, so we end up finding cats and dogs just on the street that need our help,” Menning said. “We usually take them in and rehabilitate them or try to foster them out, but any animal we can’t find a home for or get placed just ends up staying with us.” Menning has completed over 100 rescues, including a variety of wild animals ranging from squirrels, ferrets, birds and iguanas. “The iguana had to be one of the most interesting animals we’ve gotten,” Menning said. “We found him in winter. It seemed like he was frozen. We got a reptile cage and heat lamp for him, and he ended up being revived. So, we just had an iguana chilling in our house through the winter.” According to the Orange County government website,
Photos by Rachel LeBar Menning with just a few of his many rescue animals: Carley the pit bull, Roxxy the Yorkshire terrier, Chubbs the ferret, Loli the Shih Tzu, Sweetie the cocker spaniel and, in the back, Boots, the black and white cat who doubles as a statue. each year 23,000 animals are received by Orange County Animal Services. About 50 percent of those animals end up without homes. Menning says that he and his family find people who are ready to adopt through social media. Most families in the area are families they know personally and are ready for the responsibility. If no one is willing to take the animal in, Menning’s family ends up keeping the animal to prevent it from being euthanized at the shelter. “There is a huge problem with overcrowding in the shelters, so we try our best not to let the animals we get end up there,” Menning said. “Puppy stores and pet stores take away a lot of the buying power from shelters.” Along with his efforts to rescue animals, Menning also founded UCF’s Body of Animal Rights Campaign. The club volunteers at animal sanctuaries from all around Florida that have rescued animals from poor conditions and given them a place to live out the rest of their lives. One trip, however, did not end like this. “So, [in] one visit, BARC went to an animal sanctuary in Bithlo, and it turned out that the animals were living in extremely poor conditions,” Menning said. “I wasn’t there for this particular visit, but my sister was.”
By the end of that summer, BARC had helped shut down the sanctuary, and every animal was placed somewhere it could live out the rest of its life in peace. “It’s important to me to have compassion for animals,” Menning said. “I just love animals so much that I can’t say no to rescuing them.”
Menning and his family care deeply about their pets and treat them all like they are a part of the family.
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Photo by Ariadna Santos Interpreter Emma Leveson (left), tutor Rena Perez (center) and student Monica Mishrigi (left) review a lesson plan.
Hand-Eye Coordination
How a UCF student and her tutor are bridging the gap between the deaf and hearing communities
By Ariadna Santos Imagine sitting in class and realizing you forgot your pencil. While you look for it, the professor gives important information that will be on your next test, and as you finally look up, the class has moved on to a different subject. You are unable to ask your peers for a pen or what the professor said because they won’t understand. As you look for guidance at the front of the classroom, you find the only person who understands: your interpreter.
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For senior elementary education major Monica Mishrigi, this scenario represents one of many of her everyday life. As a deaf student at the University of Central Florida, she has to overcome obstacles and face challenges to receive the education many take for granted. Mishrigi decided to study education after having an American Sign Language teacher show her how rewarding it could be to merge the worlds of the deaf and the hearing. However, her educational journey has been everything but simple.
“I had an experience before,” Mishrigi said of her time at Valencia College. “I was constantly being disciplined by the teacher. I felt like I was blocked in regards to my learning. She felt because I was deaf, maybe I was lower educated and wasn’t smart enough.” As Mishrigi made her transition to UCF, professors started to provide resources that would eventually accommodate her learning style, leading her to UCF’s Writing Center, an oncampus resource where students receive
support on their writing. This is where she met senior English language arts education major Rena Perez, her tutor for the past two years. With the help of an American Sign Language interpreter provided by UCF’s student accessibility center, Perez started her weekly sessions through which she got to understand the difference between ASL and the English language. “When Monica first started coming in here, I thought ASL was English but in symbols, but it’s not,” Perez said. “It’s actually a completely different language. The structure, vocabulary, everything is really different. So it was a lot to learn. So now, I have a better understanding of deaf culture, as well as the translations between the two and how overwhelming it can be to learn, seeing it firsthand.” Being able to have a voice in the collegiate environment will ultimately help Mishrigi create a bridge between the two worlds, and it will allow for a more inclusive conversation. A step in that direction involves announcing the presence of a deaf student in the classroom prior to the
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I think it is really important for the deaf to be involved with the hearing world. - Monica Mishrigi
start of class, in order for peers to be aware of the extra aid these students would need, according to Perez. The biggest challenge Monica faces, according to Perez, involves clear understanding of expectations and assignments since some of it can get lost in translation. While Mishrigi helps Perez understand the different ways that students need support in their learning, the interaction and ultimate friendship that blossomed between them is what united them these past two years. “We have become really close friends,” Perez said. “She teaches me as much as I teach her. [It’s] a mutual learning experience,” Perez said. “I think it is really important for
the deaf to be involved with the hearing world,” Mishrigi said. “Because if they do not get that experience, I mean, this is the world that we live in. So, if the hearing are a little more zealous to try to get to know us and involve us more, I think that would help.” No matter the struggle and the extra effort, Mishrigi looks forward to her graduation this summer, when she will be able to prove that deaf students can leave a mark in the hearing world. “I feel like sometimes [the deaf ] do have a negative view of things because they do not have that support,” she said. “But I don’t care. I have to get my education and this is top priority for me. Discrimination, I have to let it go. I have to keep positive.”
Photo by Ariadna Santos Photo by Ariadna Santos Rena Perez translates a lesson to English for deaf student Monica Mishrigi during a tutoring session at UCF’s Writing Center.
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Home Court Advantage One Knight used sports to help create community in Costa Rica By Claudia Gesiotto
Photo by Claudia Gesiotto
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n old man sobs quietly in the otherwise empty hospital lobby. The only other sound comes from the pianist, whose shift ended an hour ago. Arjun Watane describes this as one of his most memorable moments volunteering at the Orlando Regional Medical Center. “I didn’t know what was going on in his life. You can never know,” Watane said. “But my music touched him, so I kept playing.” University of Central Florida senior Arjun Watane does it all. If he’s not volunteering, he’s practicing for an upcoming tennis tournament or conducting experiments with medical imaging. Watane said he gets his drive from his mother, who has been working hard her whole life as a pediatrician. He feels most like her when he’s volunteering andhelping children in the community. During his time at UCF, Watane traveled to Costa Rica with other student athletes to help rural communities. While many service trips include ample time for exploring and relaxing, Watane said the athletes were put to work building a multipurpose court as a part of the volunteer program. “We were using muscles we never knew we had,” Watane said. “It felt rewarding, like we were making a difference.” Watane estimated that they lugged more than 800 wheelbarrows of cement to make the court. As one of the small village’s only gathering places, it is used today in many different ways, including sporting events, high school graduations and town meetings. Watane’s favorite part of the trip was bonding with the village kids through sports. He said the UCF athletes taught them things like basketball, while the kids taught them how to play soccer. “We were able to use sports as a vehicle to connect with the community,” Watane said. On the last night of the trip, Watane remembers playing soccer on a muddy field with the whole town watching. “It probably looked pretty funny,” Watane said. “A bunch of middle school girls versus a bunch of college athletes.” Tennis teammate and roommate Reece Acree has been playing tennis with Watane since high school. “Arjun’s the type of guy that makes everyone around him want to be better,” Acree said.
Courtesy © CIA Stock Photography University of Central Florida former student Aric Almirola celebrates his NASCAR triumph as the first Hispanic to win all three series.
Almi-rolling to Victory How Aric Almirola became the first Cuban-American to win in all three NASCAR series By Ben Sanders
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itting on a pit road waiting for NASCAR to declare him the winner felt like an eternity for Aric Almirola. A race that was already delayed 16 hours could not possibly last any longer as heavy rain swept across Daytona International Speedway. What Almirola did not realize was that he was on the verge of history. “To be the first Hispanic that has won in all three series means a lot to me,” Almirola said. “It means that I’ve accomplished something that nobody else has. And, it means that our sport is continuing to evolve and diversify. I’m proud to be a part of it.” However, it has never been easy for former University of Central Florida student Almirola as his early career was fraught with unfortunate circumstances. The U.S. Army sponsored his ride at the Sprint Cup Series, but only until the recession occured. “I had no idea that the sponsor was getting ready to pull out of the sport, leaving me with a ride but with no sponsor,” Almirola said. This all changed in 2010 when a phone call from a
former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner gave him the opportunity no one else would. “The year that I drove Billy Ballew’s truck was really the turning point for my career,” Almirola said. “We won those two races at Dover and Michigan and came close to winning quite a few others. That really got noticed.” Eventually, icons of the sport such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty, whom he still drives for today, were after his services. He is now a constant threat for race wins and is competing for championships while serving as the face of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. “I do believe that Aric Almirola is making history, even if it is only in his sport, because these little victories for people of color are slowly making this type of thing normal,” said Stephanie Melendez, chair of the College Democrats’ Hispanic Caucus at UCF. For Almirola, being a good role model for not just the Hispanic community but also his family and the racing community, is most important. Victories are nice but what he regards most is his impact and ability to leave the sport in a better place than when he started.
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Hearts for the Homeless
An organization founded on compassion helps homeless people in Orlando take care of their health By Ariadna Santos
Photo by Mike Gramajo A patient gets his blood pressure checked during a Hearts for the Homeless outreach event. The organization started serving the Orlando community in August 2016, and by the end of October, they had over 75 volunteers and served over 50 people.
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s the flashing lights of the Orange County Fire Department illuminated the deserted streets of downtown Orlando and the face of an overdosed woman in the sidewalk of a church parking lot, the first night of a long awaited dream came to a close, showcasing the realities that the homeless population face in this city. According to a study published in the 2011 edition of the International Public Health Journal, “more than 80 percent of homeless people have at least one chronic health condition and more than 50 percent have a mental health condition.” It was with these statistics in mind that University of Central Florida biomedical sciences students Andrew Aboujaoude, Jennifer Carvel and Alexis Ghersi decided to put in motion the Hearts for the Homeless Orlando initiative. With a multi-faceted focus, H4H Orlando seeks to address the needs
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of the at-risk homeless population by providing blood pressure measurements and serving as a platform for college students with a desire to leave their mark in their communities. After volunteering for months with the weekly food share with Straight Street Orlando, a nonprofit focused on providing support to the poor and homeless population, they became aware of the issues and the lack of resources of this population. “I was approached by a homeless guy that said the health system had failed him,” Aboujaoude said. “He has HIV, and his family died of cancer. So, he had all these medical bills.” It was in October 2015 that they decided to start looking for support and mentors that would help them bring this idea into action. The journey was nothing short of tumultuous, especially when it came to finding people who saw their vision and goal to give back to the community.
“Most adults are focused on if it doesn’t make you any money, then it’s not worth it,” Ghersi said. “We’re nothing like the previous generation, and that’s what sets us apart.” What began as a thought quickly became an 11-month project that ended up at the Clinton Global Initiative University, an initiative created by President Bill Clinton in 2007 to engage college leaders in different social issues throughout the world. “When we first started, the important people thought it was a horrible idea,” Aboujaoude said. “LEAD Scholars believed in us.” Through preparation, research and proposals, the team was one of 20 teams from 1,200 participants at the CGIU 2016 who were awarded funds from the Resolution Project, a partner of the Clinton Foundation, said Stacey Malaret, director of LEAD Scholars Academy. “I said I think that’s a great idea,” Dr. Malaret said. “Especially since it was very low cost but had great rewards. A lot of projects that we see through CGIU or that we see is high cost and not as great rewards. So, it is really unusual to find a program that really does not cost much but has such a great effect on our Central Florida community.” With about eight to 10 volunteers, the H4H Orlando team heads to the parking lot of St. George Orthodox Church three Tuesdays out of the month with tables, chairs, blood pressure monitors and hearts filled with compassion. As they listen to the stories this community has to share, they meet people like Mark Baker, 53, whose soft-spoken voice and black
“We’re nothing like the previous generation, and that’s what sets us apart.”
- Alexis Ghersi
fedora hides an inspiring story of his rise from being homeless to now being a volunteer for Straight Street Orlando. “I’ve been on this side, so I know what it’s like,” Baker said. “A lot of these people can’t afford going to the clinic or hospitals. If we didn’t have this, we would starve.” The needs of this population continue to rise, but only through initiatives such as H4H Orlando will the problem come to a close. “I hope that one day, nobody shows up to my feedings,” said Tanya Grose, food share coordinator for Straight Street Orlando. “[And] that nobody needs help and that none of this is necessary.”
Dr. Stacey Malaret (left), Alexis Ghersi (center), Jennifer Carvel (lower right) and Andrew Aboujaoude (upper right) demonstrate a blood pressure reading. More than 80 percent of homeless people suffer from at least one chronic health condition.
Photo by Ariadna Santos Impact | Page 15
Photo by Kristen Fiore Alex Dixon works with children at the UCF Creative School for Children where she volunteers. Alex aspires to be a teacher or life specialist for children in the hospital.
Brain New Life At age 12, Alex Dixon had to start her life over. Now she hopes to help children like her By Kristen Fiore
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t 12 years old, Alex Dixon lay convulsing and unconscious in a bed surrounded by doctors and nurses. She just had a stroke during brain surgery and her brain was swelling. The doctors weren’t sure if she would survive the next 48 hours. After a stroke that took away her ability to speak and walk, it was unclear if Alex would live, much less ever be able to communicate effectively. With extreme effort and a strong refusal to be silenced, the UCF freshman defied the odds and not only recovered and relearned how to walk and talk, but became a motivational speaker. Alex gave her first motivational talk at UCF in 2013. Since then, she’s been all over the country, and her talks are getting bigger and bigger, according to Juli Dixon, Alex’s mother and a math education professor at UCF.
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Alex said that she loves giving motivational talks because it allows her to inspire people to make a change. “Everybody has a story,” Alex said. “And my story just links to other stories.” Before the stroke, Alex was a happy and academically gifted child, according to Juli. At the age of 10, she contracted pneumonia, and although the pneumonia was cured, her health did not improve. The right side of her body began spasming and dislocating thousands of times an hour. “Half of my body started to twist and curl,” Alex said. “I couldn’t uncurl it. My foot was so twisted that I couldn’t walk when I reached sixth grade.” Alex’s family saw dozens of doctors, finally stopping in Wisconsin for advice from a world-famous neurosurgeon.
“While we were there, she got so bad that we When she was accepted to UCF, Alex chose early needed to put her in a coma to buy time and try different childhood education as her major. She said she wants medications because it got to the point where she wasn’t to help kids in hospitals by talking to them about the going to survive this,” Juli said. procedures they need and being a friend when they Nothing was working, so as a last ditch effort to have none in the hospital. save her life, Alex underwent brain surgery. Having teachers and life specialists is critical for During that surgery, she had a major stroke. It not children in the hospital, according to Alex. When she was only destroyed the part of her brain that was killing her, in the hospital, they helped her and her family cope with but also much of the left hemisphere of her brain. what they had to go through. “I At the age of 12, Alex’s life began again. Currently, she works with children by look at the Much of the left hemisphere of her brain was volunteering at hospitals and at the UCF destroyed, and although she still had her Creative School for Children. positives. I can life memories, that was it, according to “Kids like Alex are so important,” walk. I can talk. I can be said Mary Little, a special education Juli. She had to relearn how to read, to speak, to do math and to walk. independent. I look at it professor at UCF. “They help all of us Gradually, Alex began speaking remember that [special education] is all that way instead.” again. about each individual child, making sure -Alex Dixon “She eventually began with one word, that they all are successful and that we have a few words,” Juli said. “She began speaking in a major role in that success.” sentences, but simple sentences. And then I began to lose Although Alex got so much back, the stroke sight of it. She was just speaking.” left her half-blind and partially paralyzed, which makes Juli and her other daughter, Jessica, wrote a things difficult sometimes. Still, Alex has never let book about Alex’s story called “A Stroke of Luck.” The book anything stand in her way. became Alex’s platform when she started motivational “I don’t look at the negatives, on what I can’t do speaking. and what I can’t have,” Alex said. “I look at the positives. I Alex said that even though the stroke took away can walk. I can talk. I can be independent. I look at it that so many things, it gave her life again, something that way instead.” makes her feel extremely lucky. Alex hopes to change the way people look at and treat students with special needs.
Courtesy of Juli Dixon Not long after her stroke, Alex wears a funny shirt which showcased her positive attitude since the beginning.
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Pushing Through the Pain Gabriella Crayton won’t let her arthritis stop her from becoming a surgeon By Amanda Osorio “They said I shouldn’t do this,” Gabriella Crayton said of her family’s reaction to her plans of becoming a physician and surgeon. At the age of 15, Crayton was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Although it affects her joints, aside from her jaw and spine, this aggressive and painful disease will not prevent her from trying to make a difference in her life and for others. At age 19 and a sophomore at the University of Central Florida, Crayton knows specifically what path she wants for her career and how to achieve it. Double majoring in health sciences and international studies and minoring in intelligence and national security, her plan includes joining the Navy and becoming an emergency room surgeon or naval intelligence. “I have had chemotherapy, taken steroids and anti-inflammatories and infusions,” Crayton said. “This disease causes white blood cells to attack the fluids between joints and mistakes it for a pathogen,” according to Crayton. From this, swelling, inflammation and excruciating pain are some of the symptoms which Crayton experiences. “I do get flare ups from stress and other factors, which make me fatigued,” she said. “It feels like I have the flu all the time.” Throughout this process of becoming a doctor, she doesn’t appear to let these flare ups stop her.
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Courtesy of Gabriella Crayton Gaby Crayton takes a break from shadowing physicians and spends time with some of the Honduran children on a mission trip with Global Medical Brigades. “There are going to be setbacks. There will be obstacles, but there’s the finish line that I cannot see,” she said. “It’s like trudging through mud. I’m not going to stop until I physically can’t do it.” With five classes and two jobs, it might seem like her plate should be full. But, she also has two clubs on the side. “It’s a stressful career, and the process is a grueling one,” she said. Her involvement with Global Medical Brigades and Phi Delta Epsilon has helped her. Walking into the Phi Delta
Epsilon chapter, it was hard not to feel a sense of ambition and motivation. Guest speakers from International Medical Outreach drew Crayton into considering going to Haiti. “How many students do you accept a year?” she asked. After the speakers were done, the president Sandeep Bala displayed a screen on the PowerPoint which asked an MCAT question of the day to keep brothers and sisters on their toes: “Pulmonary veins are responsible for what?”
Photo by Mike Gramajo Crayton immediately knew the answer. Biomedical science major Brianna King, also a member of Phi Delta Epsilon, said that Crayton’s disease is in no way preventing her from pursuing her career. “I see Gaby as everyone else,” King said. “She doesn’t allow her disease to be her crutch. In fact, this makes her stronger and gives motivation towards other people and kids who may go through this too.” Another organization she is involved with is Global Medical Brigades.
Last May she attended a medical mission in Honduras where she shadowed physicians, provided service to 550 patients in three days, built eco stoves in villages and bought all the limited medical supplies. “That solidified to me that I don’t want to stay in the U.S. and become a practicing physician,” she said. “There’s a lot of international need and not enough people who care. One doctor to 6,000 patients, how is that doable?” Global Medical Brigades provides a service toward anyone looking to assist the needy, even if
they don’t necessarily have the medical experiences. Phi Delta Epsilon is a professional fraternity whose mission is to help members looking to become medical students. The two different, yet similar organizations give Crayton an opportunity to stand out from the competition of hopefuls looking for a spot in the medical profession. “I do a lot, and it takes a lot of energy out of me,” she said. “But, I fight through it now until I can’t anymore. I want to be that force when change needs to happen.”
“I’m not going to stop until I physically can’t do it anymore.” –Gabriella Crayton Inspiring | Page 19
Fighting for a More Inclusive World What other students might take for granted, Ana Gasparini cherishes. By Marc Sznapstajler As frantic and stressed-out students barged into the Her education has not always taken place in an inclusive All Knight Study by the CFE Arena on a Monday afternoon, community. Back in elementary school, she came across two they slowed down with a warm welcome and shining smile boys who would constantly bully her. belonging to employee Ana Lauren Gasparini. “The two boys pushed me and bullied me around. They The University of Central Florida, which frequently prides made me feel like I couldn’t start my heart,” Ana said. “I guess itself on standing for opportunity, recently initiated a new they were scared of me because I was different.” program called Inclusive Education Services. As she made her way through grade school, she began to Ana was one of six inaugural IES students in fall of 2015. experience an increasing amount of support and acceptance Students who wish to apply for IES must have a documented from the community around her. While she now has many intellectual disability, exit the K-12 system, and most friends and supporters across UCF’s community, her biggest importantly, have a desire to learn, according to accessibility supporters have always been her family. consultant Lauren Bubis. “My parents have always Ana, who was born been very supportive. They said with Down syndrome, has I was an easy child, and I didn’t successfully been immersed get in trouble all the time like in UCF’s community. She is my sister does,” Ana spoke with currently enrolled in alla grin from ear to ear. inclusive self-defense and Ana’s father, Joe, shares a career planning courses, special bond with his daughter. lives in student housing and “She’s my buddy, my friend has an on-campus job at and my pal. We are just terribly the Student Union. Working proud of her,” Joe said with on campus is one of Ana’s immense pride in his voice. beloved opportunities of “She’s also an inspiration to being a Knight. her younger sister, Molly, “It makes me feel like who’s in medical school right I’m wanted,” she said. “I want now, to make the most of the Mr. Adams to know I thank opportunities she has. Her big Ana Gasparini takes a phone call at the All Knight Study next to you for believing in me and sister has taught her that.” the CFE Arena, where she works as part of an inclusion program. giving me a chance.” Seeing as IES is a three-year Matthew Adams, program, Ana is halfway through the Student Union facility and will focus more on her career specialist and Ana’s boss, believes that other Student Union after college for the duration of the program. employees have benefited greatly from working with her. For years, Ana has had her sights set on Hollywood “She’s humble, eager to learn and wants so badly to be and aspires to become an actress and model. After recently a part of our community,” Adams said. “It really inspires others visiting Los Angeles and feeling its aura, her dreams have been to take some of the work opportunities they may have missed. cemented. She’s so excited about it that she makes others excited about it.” In order to achieve her goal, she is considering taking While the opportunity to work on campus is often taken some theater classes in her last year. for granted, Ana holds it close to her heart. It has impacted With firm confidence in her voice, Ana said she won’t let her in more ways than one, as she has struggled with feeling anything get in her way. wanted in the past. “I believe anything is possible,” Ana said. “I just do.”
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Ana’s instructor, Rieko Sasaki, brought the self-defense class to the top of a parking garage. She practiced different techniques on how to protect herself from danger in a parking lot.
“We are just terribly proud of her.” - Joe Gasparini, Ana’s father
Ana practices self-defense with classmate Taylor Foxworth, who said that her personality and laughter is contagious throughout the class.
Photos by Hilary Winocoor
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The Living Room Project Makisha Noel opened her home in the hopes that others would open their minds By Alexis George
T
wenty-three-yearold Makisha Noel noticed that the discussions taking place among some college students were simply surface level. During her senior year at the University of Central Florida, Noel decided that she wanted to be someone who could help facilitate constructive dialogue. So she started the Living Room Project. “The mission of the Living Room Project is to build community through constructive dialogue and debate, one living room at a time” Noel said. She believes that people are usually surrounded by others who agree with them on particular issues and therefore never fully get a chance to articulate what they believe and why. “The Living Room Project is intended to build empathy and understanding,” she said. “This is not a part of the academic curriculum.” On an October evening, students began to enter a UCF classroom to participate in the Living Room Project. They walked over to grab water and snacks that were arranged on a table.
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Although this wasn’t an actual living room, the atmosphere was still comfy, inviting. Over 20 people formed a circle and sat on the light brown carpet. Dante Johnson, the moderator for the evening, set the tone. “There are only a few rules,” he said. “Be respectful, be yourself and don’t hold back.” The theme of the night, “The Walking Dead,” would explore being a zombie in one’s community. The conversation began. Attendees discussed everything from how social media influences the way one sees the world to how culture influences public opinion. At times, there were disagreements, but no one was ever disrespectful. Johnson is a sophomore industrial engineering major who now serves as a moderator for the Living Room Project thanks to Noel. “Without Makisha, I wouldn’t be chasing my dreams, and I wouldn’t be in a position to be in a room with other people and talk about issues that need to be discussed,” Johnson said. Brian Higgins, senior finance
major at UCF, was one of 17 attendees of the first session of the Living Room Project, which took place in Noel’s Campus Crossings living room. The attendees were asked to write down topics they wished to discuss and a random selection of topics would be chosen. The three topics were the Black Lives Matter movement gender roles and homosexuality. Higgins has had the opportunity to interact with people who have different personalities and perspectives from his own. “I am usually very opinionated, but I took the time to just listen during the first session… I left with a different mindset,” he said. “People need an outlet. They need to make sense of the things going on in the world. A chance to have meaningful conversation…I didn’t have a chance to do this before the Living Room Project. I am grateful.” Diana Levasseur has been attending Living Room Project meetings since January of 2016. “Since attending the Living Room Project sessions, my walls have broken down,” she said. Noel has made it her mission
to impact the lives of all who she encounters through her Living Room Project. “Makisha is always trying to get people to do more,” said Levasseur. Four people, including Levasseur, were all added to Noel’s team by showing a commitment to attending the sessions. They now get to help her encourage others to participate in
meaningful conversation. Today, Noel is back in her hometown, Miami, where she intends to expand the Living Room Project. She is currently striving to start a web series that will allow people in-state and overseas to engage in conversation. Noel hopes that the Living Room Project will continue to grow, and that each individual who attends leaves
with an expanded world view. “I hope that the participants say ‘Wow, now I think differently. Now I’ll treat people differently,’” she said. “I hope as a learning entrepreneur that I continue to connect with people and learn what their needs are so that the Living Room Project can be a solution to the needs of the participants.”
Rules:
“Be respectful, Be yourself, Don’t
Hold back”
-Dante Johnson
Dante Johnson has taken over Noel’s legacy and encourages others to participate in meaningful conversation.
Photos by Alyssa McComb
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