Remembering Aulana Hulbert
You don’t know when you’re about to learn something that can alter the grand scheme of things- a game changer. These new perspectives are launched toward us at the strangest times, in the most unsuspecting places, by the most unexpected people. Outdoor Education is an annual three day camp experience in late August for all sixth graders at Seward Middle School. I was selected after applying to be an Outdoor Ed Counselor, and I was given the opportunity to work with incredibly bright kids. In those three short days, I was a friend, a teacher, a nurse, a counselor, and a leader. But the most important role I filled was as a student, and I didn’t expect that one of the sixth graders would be the teacher.
My first impression of Aulana Hulbert can be summed up by one word; talkative. It was as if there were so many stories and words swimming around in her head that they couldn’t possibly find their way out fast enough- but that didn’t stop her from trying. She was in on all the gossip- “Delainy, did you know that Emily likes Christopher but Christopher likes Hannah even though she’s dating Andrew who I think is cheating on her with Sarah?” She was absolutely relentless when it came to news of the high schoolers: “Are there any cute boys in your class? Because I heard from Taylor that Jesse is the hottest.” In her tween world of middle school crushes and Hollywood heartthrobs, a talent Aulana possessed that made her very popular among her peers was being a self-proclaimed matchmaker. To her credit, she tried to set up almost every one of her camp counselors, and you can bet that my lovelife was a favorite target: “Delainy, Cohl said he’s going to ask you to homecoming, but Dakota told me that he likes you!” I was overwhelmed to say the least.
Aulana encompassed what I’d define as fearlessness. Shyness was left at the doorway of any room she entered, and what others thought was of no concern to her. She only proved her capabilities to herself, and never to anyone else. When I was around her, I’d feel like I was in the presence of a rock star due to her larger than life attitude- she’d tell anyone to google her because she was, in fact, famous.
Now here’s the part where I throw out a curveball: Aulana Hulbert was wheelchair-bound. She was born with Caudal Regression, which impacted the development of her lower spine. She didn’t have the use of her legs, as she was born with no spine below her ribcage. This meant that the room she had for internal organs was limited, and throughout her life she endured tough and innovative surgical procedures that would attempt to counter that problem. This physical disability predicted that she wouldn’t live past infancy, however she put that expectation, like many others, to shame.
You may be wondering what a sixth grader in a wheelchair was doing at a class camping trip involving plenty of treks through forests and lake excursions. But if you knew Aulana, this question would never come to mind. She was fiercely independent, and a true rebel. If anything, her wheelchair was a throne and she was the queen. She never let her disability get in the way of living each day to the fullest, and life for Aulana overflowed past the brim. Her entire being rebelled against the odds, but held them near to her heart with every moment. She fought them each day, but she cherished the chance she had to fight them.
The final curveball I have left to throw is that on September 2, 2016, Aulana Hulbert passed away at twelve years old. Here is an excerpt from her obituary:
She loved the Fourth of July and a good old gory Halloween. Aulana also
liked camping with her family and wished she could be in the 6th grade again,
so she would be able to go back to Outdoor Education.
It leaves me awestruck that I was a direct part of an experience that, for Aulana, was so impactful and significant that it was included in her memory. She was an inspiration, for obvious reasons. Being born with a physical disability and rising above the odds is a source of encouragement for any onlooker. But the greatest lesson she taught me was something beyond books and mathematics; a reminder that life, and people at that, are one time offers. When I think of Aulana, I’m reminded to reach for new experiences and help others to find their own source of braveness- mine happens comes from the sassiest kid to ever wheel across the planet. But both the fragilest and the strongest characters can leave your life as quickly as they entered it, and sometimes, if you’re one of the lucky few, you’ll have a chance to make an impact and know without a doubt that they taught you something new as well.
My first impression of Aulana Hulbert can be summed up by one word; talkative. It was as if there were so many stories and words swimming around in her head that they couldn’t possibly find their way out fast enough- but that didn’t stop her from trying. She was in on all the gossip- “Delainy, did you know that Emily likes Christopher but Christopher likes Hannah even though she’s dating Andrew who I think is cheating on her with Sarah?” She was absolutely relentless when it came to news of the high schoolers: “Are there any cute boys in your class? Because I heard from Taylor that Jesse is the hottest.” In her tween world of middle school crushes and Hollywood heartthrobs, a talent Aulana possessed that made her very popular among her peers was being a self-proclaimed matchmaker. To her credit, she tried to set up almost every one of her camp counselors, and you can bet that my lovelife was a favorite target: “Delainy, Cohl said he’s going to ask you to homecoming, but Dakota told me that he likes you!” I was overwhelmed to say the least.
Aulana encompassed what I’d define as fearlessness. Shyness was left at the doorway of any room she entered, and what others thought was of no concern to her. She only proved her capabilities to herself, and never to anyone else. When I was around her, I’d feel like I was in the presence of a rock star due to her larger than life attitude- she’d tell anyone to google her because she was, in fact, famous.
Now here’s the part where I throw out a curveball: Aulana Hulbert was wheelchair-bound. She was born with Caudal Regression, which impacted the development of her lower spine. She didn’t have the use of her legs, as she was born with no spine below her ribcage. This meant that the room she had for internal organs was limited, and throughout her life she endured tough and innovative surgical procedures that would attempt to counter that problem. This physical disability predicted that she wouldn’t live past infancy, however she put that expectation, like many others, to shame.
You may be wondering what a sixth grader in a wheelchair was doing at a class camping trip involving plenty of treks through forests and lake excursions. But if you knew Aulana, this question would never come to mind. She was fiercely independent, and a true rebel. If anything, her wheelchair was a throne and she was the queen. She never let her disability get in the way of living each day to the fullest, and life for Aulana overflowed past the brim. Her entire being rebelled against the odds, but held them near to her heart with every moment. She fought them each day, but she cherished the chance she had to fight them.
The final curveball I have left to throw is that on September 2, 2016, Aulana Hulbert passed away at twelve years old. Here is an excerpt from her obituary:
She loved the Fourth of July and a good old gory Halloween. Aulana also
liked camping with her family and wished she could be in the 6th grade again,
so she would be able to go back to Outdoor Education.
It leaves me awestruck that I was a direct part of an experience that, for Aulana, was so impactful and significant that it was included in her memory. She was an inspiration, for obvious reasons. Being born with a physical disability and rising above the odds is a source of encouragement for any onlooker. But the greatest lesson she taught me was something beyond books and mathematics; a reminder that life, and people at that, are one time offers. When I think of Aulana, I’m reminded to reach for new experiences and help others to find their own source of braveness- mine happens comes from the sassiest kid to ever wheel across the planet. But both the fragilest and the strongest characters can leave your life as quickly as they entered it, and sometimes, if you’re one of the lucky few, you’ll have a chance to make an impact and know without a doubt that they taught you something new as well.