I can’t believe we only have two more weeks to go. I can’t believe that in two weeks I will no longer be an intern with the one and only Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio. I can’t believe that in six days our first graduating class for the DSACO Summer Learning Academy will be recieveing their diplomas. I can’t believe that two days ago we celebrated the final outing for our Golf Academy. I can’t believe it’s August. What happened to Summer?

It seemed like just yesterday I was googling Down syndrome just hoping to figure out what it was. Now I’m sharing with everybody just how awesome it is working with DSACO and the members and families it serves. It seemed like just yesterday I was overwhelmed by the youngsters in our learning academy. Now, I’m just slightly-overwhelmed occasionally by the kids, and primarily fascinated by there strong personalities, inspired by their love for family, friends, and learning, and appreciative of the opportunity to work with them. It seems like just yesterday we were enduring the scorching heat of June and July. Now it seems like we are enduring the slightly-less-scorching heat of August. But I digress.

But it’s been real. It’s been fun. And it’s been really fun. Time flew by this Summer, and I really owe it to the office staff for making every day in the office enjoyable and full of laughter and to the persons with Down syndrome who participated in our Golf Academy and Learning Academy. With Down syndrome, it’s all about having fun. Everything is fun, because what is life if it isn’t enjoyable? Even the hard stuff. And they remind me of this every day, and I will surely never forget.

If we can’t learn something right away, let’s make a game out of it. If it’s not interesting enough right away, let’s make a competition out of it. If I miss my mom, I’m going to climb all over Alfred with the other kids in my class and that will make everything all better [true story]. If a book isn’t exciting, let’s put it on a cd and sing it with funky hand motions.

To build upon a favorite quote of mine by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Basically, anyone can be great because anyone can love. And of those, these kids with Down syndrome are the greatest.