Alan Willar has worked hard and sacrificed much to overcome his learning and listening disabilities.
Now, the Oxford High School junior wants to help others with disabilities and himself by attending the 2005 Michigan Youth Leadership Forum in June.
Willar was selected to be a delegate at the five-day educational and motivation forum in Lansing. The event is a unique leadership training program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities.
From learning the rights and laws protecting the disabled to debating a bill with members of the state Legislature, the forum offers people with disabilities common challenges, experiences and opportunities to learn from one another.
The forum’s goals are to cultivate leadership, citizenship and social skills.
Willar is anxious to attend so he can learn how to be an ‘advocate? for his own rights and needs and in turn ‘inspire other students who are struggling.?
‘I want to be an encouragement and a source of hope,? Willar wrote in his application essay for the Michigan Youth Leadership Forum. ‘I want to be the burst of oxygen on the little flame that sparks the fire.?
Willar came to OHS at the start of his sophomore year. In spring 2003, he made the difficult decision to leave Atherton High School, along with his mom, sister and brother, and move in with his dad, Mark, in Oxford.
Although the school was aware of his disabilities, Willar said Atherton wasn’t providing him with the extra assistance and instruction he required to grasp the fundamentals of the English language.
‘I wanted to learn, but they (teachers) wouldn’t help me learn to read, write and spell better,? he wrote.
Atherton’s teachers wouldn’t let him use the special speakers provided to him to aid his listening disability. ‘I was frustrated by the whole situation and was about to give up,? Willar wrote.
Atherton also didn’t have the college preparatory classes he needed to attend a four-year university.
‘The decision to leave all my close personal relationships for the chance of a better education was tough,? Willar wrote. ‘I was willing to make sacrifices for my future.?
When Willar came to Oxford he was spelling at a third-grade level while his reading and vocabulary was at a sixth-grade level.
Fortunately, he found people willing to devote some extra attention to him and help him learn the basics.
One of those people was his varsity basketball coach Steve Laidlaw, who helped Willar practice his spelling and provided a constant source of encouragement.
‘It is that passion to be successful that sets Alan apart from the other student/athletes that I have been exposed to,? according to Laidlaw in a Nov. 22, 2004 letter of recommendation. ‘The progress that he has made in a year is bordering on remarkable.?
‘He is clearly the most driven student/athlete I have ever had the privilege of coaching,? Laidlaw noted. ?
Another influential person was English/Language Arts teacher Marsha Chapman, who’s devoted many hours in the classroom and after school to helping Willar, who’s currently a student in her American Literature course.
‘Alan is focused and passionate about learning,? Chapman said. ‘He is not discouraged or defeated by hard work, rather he sees hard work as a challenge and an opportunity.?
‘They’ve both helped me so much,? Willar said of Laidlaw and Chapman. ‘Since I’ve been here, I’ve made a lot of progress.?
Today, Willar is an A-student looking forward to pursuing a career in engineering because he wants to ‘make a difference in the world.?
To other students with disabilities, Willar offers this advice ? ‘Don’t give up. Keep going. Don’t let yourself get pushed around. There are rights and laws to protect you.?