MEET
MELONY SALLA
HOW SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHANGED MY LIFE making a difference By Melony Salla
Have you ever thought of how Special Olympics changes a person’s life? I am writing this article to tell you how Special Olympics has changed my life and how it can change your life, too. As my coach once said, “I don’t know what Melony would do without Special Olympics or what Special Olympics would do without Melony.” All my life I was made fun of because I have a disability. I learn differently than others do. The older I’ve gotten the more I realize I’m really not any different from others. My disability doesn’t define me. I’m so much more. My name is Melony Salla. I’m from a small town in Indiana called Fowler. It’s out in the middle of nowhere. When I was in elementary school, I was bullied, so I had no self-confidence, no self-esteem. I was shy, and just didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere no matter how hard my parents tried to help me fit in. It wasn’t until I hit seventh grade that I met Coach Juanita Garten-Ecret, who told me about Special Olympics. She told me how you become part of a team with other athletes who had disabilities just like mine. How everyone encouraged each other to do something they had never done before. It was something that sparked my interest for a change. I finally found someplace where I felt like I belonged. Needless to say, Special Olympics has become my passion. When I first started in Special Olympics, I thought I couldn’t be anything more than just an athlete. Well, 14 years later I’m still an athlete, but I’m also a leader. I started out as an athlete and worked very hard, participating in all practices, area games, and state games. Then I started helping the older athletes with their events if they needed help. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was slowly gaining confidence in myself. The younger athletes started looking up to me and I started mentoring them. Actually, I
16 Special Needs Living • March 2022
thought I was just helping them until my coach said I was their mentor. I never thought people would look up to me. Who would have ever thought that I, the shy, no-confidence girl in elementary school, would be doing that? In 2013, I was nominated by my coach for the Area Athlete of the Year and won. Being the area athlete allowed my name to be put in the hat for State Athlete of the Year. Sure enough, I was named the 2013 State Athlete of the Year. What an honor that was! That title allowed me to light the cauldron at the Summer Special Olympics in June of 2014. It was very emotional because I was the first athlete from Benton County to ever do the lighting of the cauldron. This is where my journey started to the leadership roles that I have now. Shortly after the summer games, I learned about the Athlete Leadership University (ALU for short). In case you didn’t know, ALU is for athletes in Special Olympics
