By BETHANY SHERROW
Features Editor

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — UCM has a two-year certificate program called THRIVE for students with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY KRITI GOPAL
Nora Becker (right) and her roommate, Michelle Beehner pose for a photo with Mo the Mule in the Elliott Student Union.

The program seeks to teach students independence and confidence.

Nora Becker is graduating from the program next month and she said being at UCM has been a great experience, but starting out wasn’t easy.

“It was very emotional because I’m an only child,” Becker said. “I had no idea what to do. I just didn’t know what my roommate was going to be like. She was really nice and comforting, but it was just hard.”

Becker said she quickly discovered that being in the THRIVE program is like being part of one big family.

“I remember when I was here and I was missing my family, so I was crying,” Becker said. “Three kids came up and said it was OK to miss your family and they supported me.”

Now, at the end of the program, Becker said she has grown a lot.

“I always felt confident in myself, but now I’m more confident,” she said. “I was confident when I came here, but now I’ve had more experiences.”

Becker said after participating in the THRIVE program she’s learned how to cook, do her own laundry and learned when to ask for help. In addition to practical lessons, she said she’s learned life lessons along the way.

“I learned independence, self-motivation, learned how to see new possibilities, meet new people and to get out of my bubble,” Becker said.

She also learned that she is a leader, even if it’s not in the traditional sense.

“It depends what kind of definition for leader, like standing up for somebody, that will be me,” Becker said. “Standing up for somebody that cannot stand up for themselves, that will be me.”

Becker also leads by encouraging others.

“I encourage other people too because a lot of people in my program have disabilities and sometimes it’s just really hard on them,” she said. “Sometimes they think, ‘Why me?’ I say, ‘Because God knows us and that we can fight through it. So, that’s why he picked us.’”

Becker said she keeps herself busy and involved. She enjoys horseback riding, traveling and reading.

“I don’t let my disability control me,” Becker said. “Just because I have a disability doesn’t mean it needs to ruin my life. That’s my motto. My disability cannot ruin my life. I make my own choices in my life.”