September 2023 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton

ALWAYS ON THE GO! Introducing You To Brooklyn Waidman

BY DEBORAH RILEY PHOTOS BY JULIAN CURET

17-year-old Brooklyn Waidman loves to stay busy!

The Canton South High School Junior is involved in many activities and groups and keeps very active. Whether it’s soccer, dance, fitness classes, cooking classes, 4-H, or volunteering, Brooklyn always has somewhere to go and something to do!

Some of the activities and groups that Brooklyn participates in are: Mighty KATS soccer through Canton South Soccer Club, GiGi Teen Fitness at GiGi’s Playhouse, Clover Valley 4-H Club, and volunteering in the community at Bridge Point Community Services on the SMILE team.

Brooklyn splits her time between her mom and dad’s homes and has two brothers (Logan and Skiler), two sisters (Hailey and Kelsey), and a plethora of animals including dogs, goats, a donkey, a cat, and chickens! When she is at her dad’s, she loves swimming in their pool, jumping on the trampoline, playing Barbies with her sister Kelsey, and going to the movies and out to eat with her sisters. When she is at her mom’s she likes to play with her dolls, listen to music, and go get her nails done. Brooklyn also loves traveling with her family for road trips and flying on planes. She goes to lots of places with her family and she especially loves the mountains and the beach. When Brooklyn isn’t hanging out with her family you can find her hanging out with her best friends Laken, Casen, Owen, Michael, Noah, and Chanze. Brooklyn wants you to know that there are lots of activities and groups out there. Get involved and meet a great group of people to support and help you along the way! Some of the activities and groups that Brooklyn participates in are: Mighty KATS soccer through Canton South Soccer Club, GiGi Teen Fitness at GiGi’s Playhouse, Clover Valley 4-H Club, and volunteering in the community at Bridge Point Community Services on the SMILE team. Brooklyn especially enjoys the different activities they offer at GiGi’s Playhouse. She has done their tutoring, dance, cooking, and fitness classes. She has many friends who go there and always has a lot of fun.

One of the people who inspires Brooklyn is her teacher, Mr. White. He always makes her laugh and is very silly with his face. He makes her do her work at school and has taught her skills like counting money and tying her shoes. Her favorite subject in school is cooking. Mr. White makes class fun and loves to tease her and make her laugh by saying he’ll give her a knuckle sandwich with mayonnaise if she doesn’t listen. She says Mr. White is so funny!

After high school Brooklyn hopes to sing and dance on stage, she says that she is good at those talents! She would also like to cook or clean at a hotel or restaurant. At school, they go to Goodwill and the YMCA to work and learn vocational skills. Whatever Brooklyn does, I’m sure she’ll make tons of friends where so goes!