The playground slide at my elementary school was very steep and scary to me. As a blind, six- year old, I still remember how fearful I was about this particular slide. I will never forget my first day at East Farms Elementary. When the bell rang for recess, my first grade teacher Mrs. Schroeder exclaimed, "Chanelle, come with me, there is someone I would like you to meet." I held my teacher's arm with one hand and used my cane with the other as we made our way across the playground to the slide. The person that she wanted me to meet came over and held her hand out to touch mine. "Hi Chanelle, I am very happy to meet you." "My name is Mrs. Angove." "Can I help you to the ladder so that you can go down the slide?", Mrs. Angove asked in a warm, caring voice. I was hesitant to give an answer, but I moved toward the ladder. She showed me where to put my hands so that I could climb up to the top of the slide. "Give yourself a little push and I'll catch you when you get to the bottom," she assured me. Somehow, I felt that I could trust this person even though I had just met her. Although I was frightened, I took a quick breath and let myself go. My hands clutched the sides, and my legs felt stiff in front of me. My head slightly fell back. As I was sliding down, I could feel myself grinning. Suddenly her hands caught me as I reached the bottom of the slide! It really was not so bad after all. Little did I know that this woman would have so much impact upon my life. Our relationship began with her helping me to climb up the ladder of that steep and scary slide.

Our first climb up the ladder was difficult for us. At my first school, I did not have a regular vision teacher, so I fell behind in leaming how to read Braille. Mrs. Angove also did not know Braille, so from the beginning it was difficult for both of us. I am so thankful that my school district thought it was important to hire an assistant to facilitate communication between my teachers and I. She was to be my assistant for the school years to come ... possibly until I graduate. Acquiring knowledge in a sighted world was not easy, but with our determination, it did not take long before I was working ahead of my grade level. Mrs. Angove kept right up with me, brailing my assignments as well as transcribing my work for my teachers.

Mrs. Angove believed in me, and her encouragement helped me to face challenges. For example, when I was in the fourth grade, I was leaming to write my name on the chalkboard. At first, I wrote my name across the entire length of the board. Eventually, I was able to decrease it to check size. Mrs. Angove proved to me that I could do it, even though at times it was frustrating. In addition, when I was ten years old, I became very sick and I was diagnosed with diabetes. Again, I felt the touch of Mrs. Angove's hand when she came to the hospital to pray for me. She helped me to realize that this was just another obstacle in my life that I could overcome.

As the years quickly went by through middle school and high school, I was working more independently. By the time I was a junior, there were few subjects that needed to be transcribed. With the help of today's technology, I have been able to use a Braille'N Speak to complete assignments and print them for my teachers. Although Mrs. Angove has decided to work part-time, she still watches over me and keeps me under her wing.

I truly admire this amazing woman. Mrs. Angove is 68 years old now. Soon she will retire, and I will go off to college. We have shared many special moments during our journey. Her encouragement, patience and optimism have been an influence in my life, helping to shape me in to who I am today. I am confident that I will be strong enough to face my fears and move on to greater achievements of the future. I smile when I think of Mrs. Angove, and of all the wonderful times that we had together ... but I am saddened to know that this is the year, we will both reach the end of the slide.