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Hey everyone!

With graduation season upon us, it’s such a crazy fun, exciting, monumental time for both graduates and families alike. Parents have the joy of watching their babies grow up right in front of their eyes; once adorable and fragile children, now/soon to be adults. Students are filled with excitement to close one chapter and open the next. Whether that be college or otherwise, the world is now their playing field. Everyone’s ready! Or at least everyone THINKS they are.

It’s been five (count ’em, FIVE!) years to the day since I graduated high school! While I sit here in utter disbelief at how time could fly at the blink of an eye, I’m also reflective. What have I accomplished? How far have I gone? How have I grown?

In honor of five years, I’d like to share with you five things I’ve learned since graduation day!

1. It doesn’t get any easier from here.

– Now, when I was younger I thought I knew it all, had seen it all, and experienced it all. No one could convince me of otherwise. Little did I know that everything I had experienced was just a small taste of the real world. Careers, starting a family, bills, TAXES?! Imagine my surprise when taxes became a thing! Looking back, I miss the small and seemingly mundane things that I once thought were huge. The real world is so much more.. real! You learn to adapt though. Don’t worry! It doesn’t get easier, you just get tougher and stronger!

2. Times change; so do people.

– This is a double edged sword to say the least. Whether it be new individuals who have entered ones life or new experiences that change who people are, people grow and change accordingly. Everyone gravitates to those they can relate to, who they can learn from, or are physically around more. While I do miss some very fond friendships I had growing up, I do realize that as I continued on in life, I grew, I physically moved, and I changed as a person. That’s perfectly okay and normal! As a result, a whole new set of characters appeared while others slowly disappeared. Is it sad? Kind of. That’s just life though! Some lasted the test of time, while others I keep in heart. There will always be love for the old, but that doesn’t mean room can’t be made for the new!

3. Expect the unexpected.

– “I will NEVER/That will NEVER happen…” -a statement made by absolutely everyone at one point or another.

Never say never. You never know where life will take you or what circumstances you will find yourself in. You may find yourself in the craziest situations with the most unexpected people but these are the moments that matter most. The good will make lasting memories. The bad; still lasting memories but with lessons and tools you’ll learn that’ll help you in the future.

4. Don’t worry so much! It’s okay to not have it all figured out.

– Self explanatory but it took me YEARS to learn. Relax more often! It’ll all work out the way it was meant to!

5. You will find your place and your people when you least expect it. Just breathe, live, and enjoy life!

– It’s okay if you fall and stumble a few times along your journey. As the saying goes “Rome wasn’t built over night”. The ride is beyond worth it. With hard work, perseverance, and a whole lot of love and support, you’ll one day have the life you dreamed of. You can do it!

Alright all, well that’s all for me this time. I hope you all enjoyed! Remember: be nice to people and choose love always. Until next time!

Hey everyone!

I’m Khloé Quintana, just your average 22 year old living life to the fullest. I am a singer/songwriter, an actress, a performer, a makeup artist…. I am a lover of the arts and of life in general and everything it has to offer so the list goes on and on! Oh, right! One last thing; I am living my life affected by a neurologic condition known as Cerebral Palsy.

I was diagnosed with Spastic Infantile Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy at the age of two. During my formative years, this meant minimal motor control to the point of being described as being in a vegetative state. Today, through various medical interventions such as physical, occupational therapies and major surgeries to name a few, I am able to live my life as independently as possible. I use power and manual wheelchairs for all of my mobility needs. I am able to walk assisted (holding on to something such as a walker or a treadmill with supervision in order to prevent falls, wearing orthopedic braces).

Neither Cerebral Palsy, nor the conditions I have acquired relating to Cerebral Palsy, have EVER stopped me in the way of my hopes and dreams.

Growing up, I was involved in swim lessons, Girl Scouts, piano lessons, choir, talent shows, and musical theater. My passion for the arts only grew stronger as I got older. In high school, I was given the opportunity to sing at the historic Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Illinois for a national Festival of Gold where I was able to work with, as well as be adjudicated by some of the top composers of our time. I was invited to be a part of the Panther Sparkles cheer team during my Junior and Senior years of high school, appearing alongside them twice on the ABC7 show Everyday Health. At age 17, I was asked sing as well as to share my story on an internationally broadcasted network and show; Azteca America’s Entre Nos con Patricia Arbulú.

Now, perhaps you may be wondering about my academics? School was a bit of a challenge in elementary and middle schools due to missing instruction as a cause of necessary medical procedures. That’s never once stopped me, though.

In high school, I reached honors, advanced placement, as well as international baccalaureate level classes and graduated high school in June 2013. From there, I went on to attend Sonoma State University, where I was a part of the University Choir, the glee club, and the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, all while gaining a spot on the Dean’s List pursuing a degree in Vocal Music Education. I later attended Moorpark College, being placed on the Dean’s list my entire tenure there. I was cast in one of the biggest productions in the college’s history; Hairspray! reaching 4.0 GPAs, taking 16 units at a time as a Theater major.

While I later spent a short time living in Seattle, Washington, there truly was no place like home. Don’t get me wrong, the place was beautiful, but it will always be second place. I moved back and am currently residing in Los Angeles, California.

So, here I am! 22 years and counting, ready to take on more of life’s adventures and challenges. It is my hope that in sharing my story, I can help change societies views of the differently-abled for the better. I like to think of my condition not as a bad thing, rather a tool I can use to help people and teach people, as well as help others be more compassionate towards those with differences. I’m working with the hand I was dealt. Guess who’s winning?!

I’m hoping you all join me along for my journey. It’s barely just begun!

XO,

-Khloé