for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com december 26, 2013 • kids & education • The Quens Courier 51 kids & education Sponsored by There’s more in store for you when you have a 5Star Credit Card. Apply today online at mynycb.com or call us at 1-888-550-9888 Cardozo cheerleader SHINES BY LIAM LA GUERRE with her, those are the kind of challenges [email protected] that are probably harder to overcome.” Kayla, who is a member of Cardozo’s Benjamin Cardozo High School senior step team and cheerleading squad, is Kayla Garcia is an average teenage girl. just fine with her body and is hoping to She goes to parties with her friends, continue dancing in college. she loves eating shrimp, complains She wants to major in psychology, about how long the SAT was, and is still while participating on the cheerleading contemplating which college to attend and stepping teams at the next level. next year. Kayla is considering a wide range of But Kayla, 17, was born without her schools, including Dickinson College, right forearm. Hofstra University, Wesleyan University “When I first had her I was worried, or Ithaca College, among others. is she going to ride a bike,” said Kayla’s “I’m excited for that, I’m not nervous mother Cindy. “But then I was like, ‘it’s for college,” Kayla said. “I’m just wondering stupid to worry about stuff like that.’ She’s healthy, there is nothing mentally wrong 1 where I am going to go.” Her right arm is stunted to about her > Absolutely Free Student Checking •No minimum balance •No per check fee •No monthly maintenance fee > Free unlimited ATM transactions at NYCB locations > Free VISA®CheckCard > Free Direct Deposit > Free On-line Banking with Free Bill Pay† > 24 Hour Bank by Phone > Convenience •Over 140 locations in OPEN YOUR STUDENT CHECKING2 ACCOUNT AND/OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND ENJOY: • NO MINIMUM BALANCE FEE • NO PER-C HEC K FEE • NO MONTHLY SERVICE FEE Free ▪ Unlimited transactions at NYCB ATMs ▪ Visa® check card ▪ Direct Deposit ▪ Online Banking and Bill e-Statements NY and NJ •Extended branch banking hours •Supermarket banking •7 day-a-week banking at many locations > Pre-Paid Solutions •VISA® Gift Card •Pre-Paid Long Distance •Pre-Paid MasterCardTM •Pre-Paid Wireless Service •MetroCards Pay3 with Convenience ▪ Over 175 locations in NY and NJ ▪ Extended branch banking hours ▪ 24-hour bank by phone ▪ 7 day-a-week banking at many locations For more information call 718-448-7272 or visit www.myNYCB.com For more information call 718-263-0937 or visit www.myNYCB.com †For your online security, information will be verified by the Bank. 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Please talk to a branch representative or ask for our fee schedule for more details. elbow, but the Flushing teen uses the ligament naturally, such as to brush aside her long hair when strands creep in front of her face. During her years in Cardozo she has participated in various extracurricular activities, including volunteering at local organizations and events, such as the Dribble for a Cure cancer fundraiser at St. John’s University with the cheerleading team. She is also part of Cardozo’s Leadership Class, the student government group that oversees all club activities, parties and numerous events for the more than 4,000 students enrolled in the school. Kayla performs with the step club during the school’s popular basketball games, and the cheerleading squad at the football games. She shines with confidence, despite the missing limb, because Kayla has been attending support groups since she was about three years old with her mother to meet with parents and other children in similar situations. Cindy heard some advice that stuck with her from the groups, which influenced the way she raised Kayla. “Your kid is normal, how people perceive her that’s their problem. Raise her like you would any other kid and she’ll be fine,” Cindy recalled. And she followed through. When Kayla was about eight years old, Cindy pushed her into salsa dance classes. Kayla developed a love for dancing, which years later she used to be accepted into Cardozo, after auditioning her talents for the school’s dance program. Looking towards the future Kayla doesn’t think she will cheer or do dancing for a career. She also doesn’t want a right forearm. Since she never had one, she doesn’t even miss it. “I’m so used to doing everything with one. Doing it with two would throw me off,” Kayla said. “I am just used to being this way I wouldn’t want a prosthetic arm.” THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Benjamin Cardozo High School senior Kayla Garcia, who was born without a right forearm, excels at dancing and is hoping to use her talents to go to college. ▶
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