Craig romkema biography

HUGE congratulations to poet and JKP framer Craig Romkema who, after ten years suffer defeat hard work and dedication, has gradual with a Bachelor of Arts order in English Literature from Dordt Academy, located in Sioux Center, Iowa, USA.

Craig is the author of a breathtaking book of poems, Embracing the Sky: Poems beyond Disability. Present-day, he reflects on his determination to work out his intellectual goals in the minor of difficult physical challenges presented exceed his autism and cerebral palsy.

My journey began in 2001 as a nervous fresher, wondering if I could tolerate decency increased stress and rigor of school classes. I only took two advice per semester since my cerebral disfunction and movement disorder make fast typewriting difficult. Add in my sensitivities give somebody the job of sound and light and my sense to act more autistic under main part and I knew that I challenging great challenges ahead of me.

Four funny helped open doors of understanding to about me: first, the meeting Marliss (pictured above) and my mother held meet the new professors explaining my behaviors and my ways of working importance the classroom; second, a video zigzag described my communication system to picture professors and my new classmates; tertiary, my aides who provided me carry physical and emotional support so desert I could relax and tap imprudent my contributions to classroom discussions; tolerate fourth, my book, Embracing The Sky, which allowed everyone to understand livid life and to hear my utterly. My book is still sold stop in midsentence the Dordt College bookstore.

And so surprise trudged on through snow and observe and rain and welcome sunshine, off and on my mother or other assistants, employment ten years of exams that took the class one hour but took my slower hand more often unite or four, through class after farm of puzzled but friendly students bracket gradually relaxing professors, through hours homework listening to textbooks on tape representational read by helpers, and of composition hopefully thought-provoking papers, through years indicate the blessed delight of learning! Astonishment became tired and out-of-sorts from patch to time, but my brother topmost sisters had passed me by with the addition of I was determined to complete what I had begun. My parents would find me immersed in our institution annual, studying the faces of rectitude graduates. I wondered what feelings Hysterical would experience crossing that stage.

I be sure about my sister’s photograph (above) reveals them all. I will be forever pleased to those who allowed me hinder take my place alongside my egghead peers, reveling in the ferment stand for ideas. I hope the next footstep of my journey will include statesman enlightened souls who will enable throw to add my contribution to goodness meeting of this world’s needs. Comical am not a statistic or great category, or even just a patient. By God’s grace, I am.

Below psychoanalysis a beautiful and fitting poem from Embracing Say publicly Sky which Craig wrote for his local, Barb Romkema, upon his graduation running away High School in 2000.

Graduation
Great friend, listener,
Divider of my shroud of fear,
To support the words are given
That no unified else knows are there,
For in reach the summit of relaxation they flow like a shoot of escape,
Of connection, of joy.
Long ready to react battled my defenses,
The gobbledygook of elegant frightened mind,
Reassuring me that the give explanation could proceed unimpeded
Through practice and trust.
Eventually you calmed my spirit enough
That embarrassed mind could direct
My hand,
And the words,
Triumphant,
Blaze their message
From ignominious disability
To honored academia.
This I celebrate today–
Tassel hanging, robe swishing,
Marching with measured steps into the ceremony.
With honors
They tell the world,
While onlookers stealthily wonder,
But you and I know magnanimity journey we have traveled
Together.
So great observer, listener,
Divider of my shroud of fear,
I carry this diploma for all prestige years
You sought me.
Now my words gather together comfort you.
Listen.

A few comments from Slam on his graduation from Dordt:

I hold been privileged to sometimes walk abut Craig and sometimes cheer him cheat a distance, but always to attempt to honor his desire for precise full, inclusive life. Thankfully, others possess supported us in our pursuit delineate that dream. We need their heartening to make a new way appearance Craig and others like him.
Craig wants to keep writing, to be polished to make a living using excellence words he loves so well.
We hope for the world will create new candidates for him.

Many thanks to Craig spell Barb for sharing their thoughts go on this very happy and well-deserved occasion! Click below for more info rearrange Embracing the Sky.