Advertisement The next year, he walked through the doors using half-crutches.
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Sparta High School senior Dustin Crocker has overcome many obsticles in his life, including cerebral palsy.
PETER THOMSON photo |
Blisters formed on his hands, but the determined teenager wasn’t about to do something halfway.
“It hasn’t been easy, but it’s something I kind of got used to,” said Dustin, 17. “It is normal for me. When I decide to do something, I do it to the best of my ability and I just don’t quit.”
It is because of Dustin’s determination that he was named Sparta High School’s winner of the Tribune Extra Effort Award.
Dustin was born prematurely. By age 2, he was still not walking.
Concerned, his parents, Lori Crocker and Jerry Crocker, sought medical help. The diagnosis? Cerebral palsy.
By the time Dustin turned 5, he had had two surgeries; at age 9, he had another to lengthen his left hamstring. Physical and occupational therapy followed.
Now a spirited senior with a wonderful sense of humor, Dustin walks to all his classes. He has the calluses to prove it.
He says winter can be a bit tricky, but he’d still rather leave the wheelchair at home.
“Perseverance is always just the word that comes to mind with Dustin,” teacher Carol Olson said. “He always strives to be better.”
Dustin has become an organized student who cares about school and works had to succeed academically.
“He became aware that becoming a star athlete in high school was out of the question,” Olson said, “so instead he made up his mind that he wanted to concentrate on all skills needed to be college bound.”
Dustin also works part time at Rolling Hills Nursing Home to pay for his own Internet. He is learning to drive using hand controls.
“He is never negative and always sees the best side of everything,” Olson said. “He is absolutely amazing.”
Dustin plans to attend Western Technical College and would like to eventually transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to major in biology.
His career goal is to become a wildlife biologist or work for the Department of Natural Resources.
Dustin has had several life experiences that will help prepare him, he said, including a job shadow with a wildlife biologist at Fort McCoy and a hunting trip in Africa.
cataractjack wrote on Jan 13, 2009 7:47 AM: