We are all given opportunity—whether we have a disability or not.
What differs is not the opportunity itself, but the way we access it.

“But why does she get to ride in a golf cart while the rest of us have to carry our bags? That’s unfair.”

I heard that more than once during my high school golf career.

Before I ever rode in a golf cart, I carried my bag—not because it was best for me, but because I was trying to look the same as everyone else. I believed that if I could do things the way the other girls did, then I had earned my place. What I didn’t realize was that I was confusing equality with sameness.

After a golf-related injury, the truth became unavoidable: I wasn’t proving strength by carrying my bag. I was limiting my ability to compete.

We all played the same sport.
We all played the same nine holes.
We all pursued the same outcome.

The opportunity was identical.

Cerebral Palsy made walking long distances—especially while carrying a 15–20 pound bag—far more demanding for me. Using a golf cart didn’t give me an advantage. It removed an unnecessary barrier.

That’s when I understood something critical: comparing paths is the fastest way to miss your own opportunity.

So when the question came again—
“Why does she get to ride in a golf cart?”—
my answer was simple and honest:

“I have Cerebral Palsy. Riding in a cart allows me the same opportunity to compete and win as everyone else.”

Opportunity doesn’t disappear because it shows up differently.
Accommodation doesn’t create advantage—it creates access.

Determination isn’t about forcing yourself to struggle in the same way others do. It’s about recognizing what allows you to show up fully and perform at your best.

We are all given opportunity—disabled or not.
The route may change.
The destination does not.