May 20, 2011
‘Life is a Journey’
Christ the King students write a book about daily struggles
Fifth graders at Christ the King School in Evansville have written a book about coping with daily struggles. It’s entitled “Life is a Journey.” Above, with a copy of the book are Brandon Weisman, Caroline Cleaver and Landon Owens. Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
Last year, under the direction of teacher Susan Ball, fourth graders at Christ the King School in Evansville learned about coping with the daily struggles in their lives.
They had some pretty big struggles, says their principal Sister Mary Karen Bahlmann.
They included hearing loss, childhood diabetes and cystic fibrosis. At the end of the year, after many discussions about being on a journey, the children wrote a book. This year, their book “Life is a Journey” was published.
Ball said, “In religion class last year, the children had numerous discussions about being on a journey. They had learned through prayer and lots of courage to cope with the daily struggles of their lives.
“These children were examples for the whole school. Through the Holy Spirit and many prayers of others, it was possible to use one’s gifts to make the most of each day.”
There are six chapters in the book, but perhaps the most powerful chapter is titled “Living With Courage.”
In it, Lucas Weinzapfel writes, “Life with hearing aids can be awesome, but sometimes a little frustrating. First let’s start off with the good stuff. My hearing aids can be awesome because they help me hear better than I would without them. They help me to hear at school and at home. I am still able to play all kinds of sports with my hearing aids.”
But sometimes, he adds, “I don’t like my hearing aids because I feel different from everyone else. Kids ask me all the time what I have in my ears. It makes me feel bad because I have to explain that I don’t hear as well as other kids and have to have hearing aids in my ears.”
Olivia Edwards talks about scoliosis. “Life is sometimes hard with scoliosis because your back hurts a lot. You have to wear a brace, and you may not heal after surgery.
“The worst thing about scoliosis is being in public, especially airports. People always stare at my brace. Security really takes a close look at it and they always ask, ‘What is that?’”
She writes, “The brace is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Good because it helps my back and bad because I have to wear it. Life has its ups and downs, and I still hold my head high.”
Molly Church writes, “Diabetes is rough. I got it at a young age; I was only four years old when I found out.”
She has discovered that the disease is “fine because it makes me watch what I eat,” but “everything else about diabetes is pretty challenging,” adding “Any kind of disability shouldn’t keep you from doing the things you love . . . So follow your dreams.”
Sam Gries writes about life with Tourette Syndrome, something he says “will not get me down!”
He explains that “having Tourette Syndrome causes my body to make uncontrolled movements and sounds.”
Sometimes “Tourette Syndrome is hard to live with,” he writes, “but I am getting used to it.”
Lucas Cooley says there are “good and bad things” about Cystic Fibrosis. “The good things are I get to have unhealthy stuff all the time, even ice cream for breakfast! The bad things are that if I get a cough and I keep on coughing I have to be admitted to the hospital. I have to take six pills before meals, and five pills before snacks. I have to take a multivitamin and vitamin D every day.”
He writes, “That’s my life with Cystic Fibrosis.”
The students also wrote “Words of Wisdom” for the book.
“Never stop believing that you can do anything.” Molly Church
“Always tell the truth and be honest.” Anna Kelly
“Jesus is always with you, especially in tough times.” Alex Deigman
“Listen to your heart, and don’t let anything get past you.” Alicynn Delancy
Ball said the idea for the book came when her students were preparing books for the “Young Author” program. “I woke up in the middle of the night and thought, ‘I have one more book.’”
She mentioned her idea to the students, and soon they were brainstorming ideas for the book.
Classroom aide Michelle James knew someone who publishes books, and soon the idea became a reality.
Now the book has been published. Joshua Bell says he’s “excited. I knew this was going to help a lot of people. If they read it they will see other people have problems too.”
Angelo Hawa said, “I was inspired about the book. It was a privilege to work on it.”
Ball says that while the book is meant for younger readers “I think older people are touched by it too. It reminds us that God works through children.”
The book is available at Barnes and Noble bookstore in Evansville. For additional information call Christ the King School at 812-476-1792.