Having a sister is like having a built-in best friend, but with more arguing and fighting. At first, my sister, Mary, was not very happy hearing she was getting a younger sibling since we were born in the same month but five years apart. She didn’t want to admit it, but my parents told me how excited she was to meet me when I was born.
Understanding what MID is
Growing up, I did not understand how different she was from kids her age until my parents told me when I was seven years old that Mary was diagnosed with mild intellectual disability (MID).
Mild intellectual disability is an impairment of cognitive skills, adaptive, life skills and social skills. With the disability, Mary has a low IQ with no retention and a reading level of a second grader.
At first, I did not understand what MID was and how it affected Mary, but over time I learned what her disability was and how it affected her.
It doesn’t stop people from asking questions such as what her disability is, how can she be special needs and look normal or how can she not know what simple words mean.
Being in high school at the same time
Even though Mary and I are five years apart, we were in high school at the same time because she was a super senior. A super senior is when a student stays in school for more than four years. My parents wanted Mary to stay in school until she was 21 so she can receive more education in reading, writing and math.
It was nice being in high school at the same time as my sister because it gave us time to see each other since we were both involved in sports, clubs and work.
The eye-opening realization
Throughout the years, I have lost many friends since they thought it was cool to make fun of people with the same disability as my sister or any other kids with different disabilities.
I have gotten into arguments in school and out of school with people who bullied my sister and thought it was okay to do.
I will never forget the day Mary came up to me in school and told me a girl, who was one of my best friends at the time, made a rude comment in front of a group of girls she was trying to impress. This girl who knew why Mary was still in high school had the nerve to say to her
“Mary why are you still here? Like are you that stupid you’re in high school until you’re 21.”
Seeing Mary upset and crying after a girl, who was one of my best friends and Mary grew close to, make that comment infuriated me. It still does to this day because that is no way to speak to someone ever.
Later that day when I had a class with the girl, I confronted her about the comment she made. Obviously, she tried to deny that she said what she said to Mary and thinking I would believe her over my own sister.
Well, she thought wrong. After that day, I never gave her the time of day and ended my friendship with her.
The impact
Many people ask me if I wish Mary was born without MID and my answer every time is no.
I say no because it showed me who are and who aren’t my friends and how awful people can be.
Understanding what MID is shaped me into the person I am today and the different types of disabilities there are.
But most of all I always answer no because no matter how much Mary and I may fight, I was given my forever best friend for a reason who I am proud of and will always stand by.
