People come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve seen people who are of average height, basketball players who are 7 feet tall, and we’ve even seen people who are short. Even so, each and every person wants to be recognized for their true self and not for their physical appearance.
My race, gender, and height do not determine my character. This is true, and while we may focus on ending this issue today, there are other groups of people about whom we also need more information, as well as firsthand testimonies and experiences, to break the awkwardness surrounding them and to focus on their character instead.
This is why I chose to interview a friend of mine named Nick Schwarz, a positive and talented photographer who wants to be known for how he enjoys his life and not for a condition he has called achondroplasia.
Interviewing Nick Schwarz: Living With Achondroplasia
The interview began with the question:
Think of an adversity that you have overcome. How did you accomplish defeating that challenge?
Nick answers: “A great adversity that I have overcome would have to be timing. It may be hard to find the right time to do something or say something, but throughout my life, I’ve discovered that the best time to do anything is now! Waiting just causes overthinking and stress. A good quote that I live by is, ‘Do it today, because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.’”
I enjoyed listening to his outlook on life because it is this idea that I want to promote on Tru.Works: that no matter who you are or what you’re given, you can live a life of happiness if you choose to do so. With Nick, I wanted to go deeper, and luckily, Nick chose to get more personal about his life.
My Own Story: Growing Up With Achondroplasia
Now for my personal story. The biggest adversity of my life has to be a condition I was born with. It is called achondroplasia, which is a type of dwarfism. It is the most common version, in which my arms and legs (limbs) are shorter than average.
I’ve been pointed at, stared at, and maybe even laughed at throughout my entire life. Overcoming this was probably the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced. In middle school, I was around people I’d known since elementary school, and that is when the teasing faded away. Nobody really cared about my condition; they just saw me as everyone else. This is mainly thanks to having two older brothers, Austin and Chris, by my side. They were the popular athletes of their class and paved a great path for me to follow. Here I am now, in high school, and no one cares about how I appear anymore. Everyone likes me for my honesty and my outgoing, happy personality. I truly believe that this is how someone must always be judged: through their personality.
Advice for Others Living With Achondroplasia
What advice would you give to anyone with the same condition who may feel like they’re being laughed at or pointed at?
The biggest piece of advice that I would give is to just keep moving forward. Don’t look back and don’t pay attention to them. Be confident in yourself and don’t care about anything offensive anyone has to say. Just remember, the only person living your life is you, and you live it how you want to — without being altered by anyone.
What would you like to explain or bring to the attention of readers about achondroplasia?
Well, depending on the reader — whether it be a parent who has or is going to have a child with achondroplasia, or just a curious person — I would like to say that it doesn’t change the person in any way. They are just a smaller person but have the same-sized heart, if not bigger. Be prepared for the condition by reading more to understand exactly what it is and also the chances of it.
Living Fully: “Do It Today” as a Daily Practice
You wrote earlier that one quote you live by is, “Do it today because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.” What is something you’ve done “today” that turned out great? In other words, give me a real-life example of how you personally lived by that quote.
A way I live by that quote is by truly living every day to its fullest — filling the day with happiness, admiration, love, and friendship. I see each day I live as a chapter of a book covering my life. Now, if you were to read a book right now, you’d want it to be interesting, right? Well, that’s what I’m trying to do — make my life interesting and worth living. As a result, I say what I want to say today and do what I want to do, end the chapter, then move on to the next. Every book has an ending; some are expected, some aren’t. What really matters is whether you truly wanted to keep reading until the end.
Nick’s condition does not stop him from living a full life that inspires and empowers people to be who they truly are and accept themselves. No one is given the same deal when they’re born; it doesn’t give us an excuse to pout, be pessimistic, or not enjoy life. This is the lesson Nick has taught me.
I wasn’t born rich, I didn’t have the best education, and I’ve made many mistakes in my life, but I keep pushing forward. I can only hope to make my books as interesting as Nick’s as my life progresses.
For anyone who would love to talk to Nick, he can be contacted on his Twitter account @ninjanick40, where he enjoys conversation and sharing ideas and stories. I can say this because Nick has become a friend of mine who truly exemplifies what it’s like to enjoy life every day.
A great article about achondroplasia is “Achondroplasia,” by Rose Kivi, which explains medically reviewed information about achondroplasia, its symptoms, and causes.
Finally, special thanks to Nick Schwarz for his wonderful inspiration. I hope we can work together again.