Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonia Christa.
Hi Antonia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In kindergarten I learned that I only could see through my right eye, leaving me with monocular vision, lacking 3D vision. I remember, my teacher asked me to read aloud from the board at school, and I remember replying “What do you mean? Who can see the board?” And this was the beginning of my journey of discovering that life would always be a little different for me because of my visual disability.
My low vision never stopped me from believing in myself, but it did lead people around me to believe I wasn’t capable. They questioned my ability to live independently, to graduate from school, and sadly, even amount to much at all. This continued on through college when college professors told me “You’re too blind to have a career, have you really thought about this?”
I wasn’t going to believe any of that. Starting at a young age I used my artistic strengths to maintain my confidence and prove to the world that I could be whoever I wanted.
When I was older, I found my inner strength by proving everyone wrong and learned how to fire dance, and eventually did so on roller skates. It became my superpower.
In the words of Stevie Wonder: “I may have had a visual disability, but it did not stop my vision inside me…. Anything you imagine that’s for the good is possible to be a reality.”
I recall the summers I spent at the roller-skating rink just to overcome a lot of the places I didn’t feel welcomed at. The rink allowed me to just feel pure bliss and joy. Now, when I’m in the zone, all of my other senses take over and I become totally focused and relaxed. This is when my superpowers activate and *STARGIRL FIRESKATE* comes alive!
Finding my confidence and inner strength has extended to many areas of my life as well. I have figured out how to get my driver’s license with the assistance of cameras in my car, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, have become an International Performer, and am a DEI Brand Ambassador for TurboTax; all by the age of 30.
I know I can do whatever I put my mind to, and I strongly feel my purpose in life is to inspire others to do anything they want, even if the journey looks different than others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have faced immense challenges due to my disability. Even though I always wanted to be a performer, I had trouble making dance teams because it takes me a little longer to learn a routine due to my low vision.
I was released from graduate school because the professors told me “You are too blind to graduate.” Instead of letting this deter me, I reported the university to the office of civil rights so that the accessibility program at that university could be fixed. I was in fact capable and can see enough for a career, I was just not properly accommodated.
Even after that, I knew I still wanted to get my higher education and drew strength from another of my favorite musicians, Nipsy Hussle, who famously said “sometimes you have to take two steps back to take 10 steps forward.”
It personally took me two steps back, but reporting the university to the office of civil rights so the university’s accessibility could be fixed is one of my proudest accomplishments, and the rest of my story is ten steps forward.
Not only was it a win for others, this spurred me on to go to a different graduate program, one that supported me. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a master’s degree in occupational therapy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My career is multi-dimensional. My day job is as an Occupational Therapist, but my passion lies in a performing arts career. I have figured out how to balance the two, using flex time, vacation, and weekends to pursue my dreams.
As a board-certified Occupational Therapist, I work in Special Education with students who have a wide range of disabilities including physical, sensory, and/or cognitive. I help students do everyday things like eating, putting on shoes and socks, focusing on learning, writing, and playing with toys. I do assessments to determine a student’s level of functioning relative to their age and educational placement in such areas as fine/gross motor skill development, sensory-motor integration, self-care, and the activities of daily living.
I am now also an international performer, and I am professionally trained in fire dancing and roller skating. This year I have performed at EDC, and Skate Love in Barcelona, Spain, and I have become a DEI Brand Ambassador for TurboTax, being featured in their national ad campaign.
When I perform on my roller skates with fire, I am known as “STARGIRL FIRESKATE.” I love performing, so I also offer fire dancing lessons and roller-skating lessons to get my fix.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My advice: Never let your dreams and goals limit you from your highest potential. What does this mean? Simply put, we all have ideas about what our “dream life” looks like… but this can in fact limit us from what the universe is offering us. Sometimes the universe has a bigger plan for our lives than we have for ourselves. Trust the process and be open to the outcome.
Pricing:
- Roller skating lessons – $100 an hour
- Fire dancing lessons – $100 an hour
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @antoniachrista
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCATxAsUvehrDunzzd26cQ9Q | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWVF8Goh-Z4
- Tiktok: @antoniachrista
Image Credits
@stillsincolor
@philipeinsteinphotography
@allcoremedia
@derekharrisphotography
