Sidnie

Sidnie:

“Ever since I was little, I had to deal with challenges and obstacles, because of my disability.”

Sidnie was born with TAR Syndrome, a condition involving the absence of the radius bone in the arm. From a young age, she underwent multiple surgeries that kept her in casts for months. While it meant missing school and enduring pain, it also shaped her resilience.

“Growing up with TAR Syndrome isn’t as fun as it seems. You get a lot of stares from younger kids but also sometimes adults...”

Despite the difficulties, Sidnie learned early on how to advocate for herself and find strength through movement. She started learning to swim at age 3, and later joined the high school swim team — beating her 100m breaststroke time by an entire minute after four years of hard work.

“I made the newspaper for my swimming. It really helped me branch out and become more confident.”

Through extracurriculars like yearbook, student council, Interact Club, and Talent Search, Sidnie found her voice and her purpose. Interact Club, in particular, helped her discover an interest in helping others — especially students with disabilities.

“My passion for teaching is more than just teaching. It’s showing the younger children that all people are different and should be treated equally.”

Now, Sidnie is on her way to becoming an early education teacher with a goal to make sure all students feel valued, understood, and included.

“Growing up with a disability has shown me that people treat different people a certain way or try to exclude them. I want to change that.”

Quote by Sidnie:

“Don’t let your challenges define your limits.”

-Sidnie