She pours herself into her classes and loves meeting new people. And just like every other freshman, Erin faces challenges every day. Erin’s challenge is Cerebral Palsy.

“The word ‘challenge’ is much better than the word ‘disability’ to me because everyone faces challenges,” she said. “The going’s not easy, but I don’t want the pity vote.”

Erin has learned to face her challenges with determination.

“It just what I’ve always known,” said Breedlove. “ I don’t know any different. When you can’t do it you learn the quickest way that you can do it.”

When doctors predicted that Erin would never talk, walk, read or write, she proved them wrong.

Erin surprised everyone when she began to read at 4. Eighteen months later Erin’s determination brought her first step.

“Why should I complain?” Erin said. “My mind’s OK. I obviously can talk. The only things that don’t work are my legs and sometimes my arms.”

When it came to picking a college Erin found a perfect fit at Georgia College. She visited the campus for the first time on a rainy day in October of her junior year of high school.

She discovered the small campus and started to dream of her independence. As Erin left her campus tour that day, she spotted a rainbow over Bell Hall as a sign of her future at Georgia College.

“I remember saying ‘I wish I could be here now,’” said Erin who now lives in Bell Hall. “From October of junior year I visited about once a month. Before I actually came here I called Georgia College ‘Disneyland’ because there was always something going on - that was before I had to go to class.”

After receiving her acceptance letter in the mail, Erin stayed in constant contact with Mike Chambers, Georgia College Director of Disability Services.

“By constant contact, I mean like every day,” the creative writing major said. “I always had questions, and he always had the answers.”

Chambers admires Erin’s excitement about her transition from high school to college and the opportunities it has brought her.

“ She had to overcome a lot in getting here and transitioning to this level,” Chambers said. “It’s a transition for any freshman. She has done extremely well in making that jump, and I am really proud of Erin.”

Erin is well known on campus for her friendly personality, positive attitude and ability to overcome challenges. And her love for the college is contagious.

That love for Georgia College did not falter when she started classes this fall.

Erin’s time management is more difficult than the average college student’s, but she takes that challenge with stride.

The freshman exerts more energy by 9 a.m. than most students exert by 9 p.m. She faces daily challenges other students take for granted: showering, getting dressed and carrying food in the dining hall.

Erin does not complain, instead she adapts.

Erin serves as Vice President of Advocacy Beyond Limits=Empowerment Alliance (ABLE), a student organization at Georgia College that advocates on behalf of students with disabilities and also serves to heighten disability awareness on campus.

It is not uncommon for Erin to be around campus and see five people who understand what she goes through on a daily basis because they face similar challenges.

“It’s OK. There are people here that know exactly what I’m going through,” said Breedlove. “Georgia College allows me use my challenge as a positive thing. I don’t have to put up a front. I can be myself. I have a sense of security.”

Erin has found that at Georgia College she is viewed just like any other student. Everyone is here to earn a college degree and prepare for the future.

“The faculty and students here value you for what you do bring to the table, not what you can’t,” she said. “There are no words to describe it. I don’t really miss home because this really is home. I have such a degree of independence that I have never had and never thought I would have.”

She came to Georgia College in hopes of earning a degree in special education. But because of her experiences during her first semester, she has changed her major.

“I really want to be a director of disability services so I can help other students with their transitions to a residential campus,” she said. “Really, I have plans to earn Mr. Chambers’ job.”

For more information about Disability Services please contact Mike Chambers at Mike.chambers@gcsu.edu.

For more information about Erin check out her blog at http://www.empowerpeoplechangelives.com/.