2026 – David Killpack – Lehi high school HS

Slower, Not Stopped

I was born with spina bifida. Growing up with a disability has shaped every part of my life and education. It has also shaped my character in ways I would not change. If given the choice, I would not wish my disability away because it has strengthened my faith, determination, and capacity to love and serve others.

School isn’t really built for kids in wheelchairs., and navigating school in a wheelchair can be challenging. In third grade, I was used to classmates stepping in and doing things for me when they saw a need.  But my teacher told the class on the first day of school, “Don’t help Davey unless he asks for help.” I didn’t appreciate this at first, but over time, asking for help taught me to self-advocate and helped me build connections with my classmates. That lesson has stayed with me.

My disability also impacts me cognitively. I struggle with visual-spatial perception and my processing speed is slower. This means it may take me longer to understand new concepts, especially in math. At school, I am provided some accommodations, but I try to just keep up by going into school early, staying late, or getting help during lunch. Spina bifida also impacts my fine motor schools which means my handwriting is messier than my peers, and it takes me longer to write and type. Even with these setbacks, my gpa 3.75, and I’ve been accepted to a college that I tried really hard to get into. 

Socializing with my peers can also be more difficult because I look different. At recess, most kids played football or ran around on the playground. I couldn’t really join in, so I was often just left to watch. As I got older, sports became everyone’s main social world, and I wasn’t part of it. Some kids were nice because their parents told them to be nice to “the kid in the wheelchair.” As I’ve grown up, I’ve learned who actually wants to be my friend and who just pretends. I don’t have a huge friend group, but I have a solid one, and that matters more.

One of the ways I got through hard things was by joining a wheelchair basketball team. I am on a team with other players with disabilities. It’s given me a community, a place of understanding, friendship, independence, and adventures. My team travels the US to play other wheelchair basketball teams. Last year, our team placed in the top 10 in the country. This year, we are pretty bad and have only won a handful of games. I am the team captain and have learned to continue to mentor the other players and play hard, even when we are losing. 

I am a determined person. When I was 4 years old, my mom couldn’t find me anywhere in the house. Then she looked outside and saw a trail of blood on the sidewalk leading to a friend’s house. I had crawled all the way there, dragging my toes because I can’t feel my feet. I just wanted to see if he could play. I don’t quit easily. Last year, I got a job and saved up for hand controls for my car because I want to be independent. I don’t want my disability to decide what I can do.

Staying close to my family helps too. I love watching sports with my dad and talking things through with my mom. My younger sister also has spina bifida, and helping take care of her has made me more patient and responsible. I’ve been a peer tutor for six semesters and a volunteer at our local literacy center. Serving other people helps keep my own struggles in perspective.

Spina bifida hasn’t made my life easy, but it’s made me determined, independent, and more aware of other people. It’s not something I just deal with — it’s something that’s helped shape me into who I am.