Viking_Yearbook_90

Akagi to graduate Even Multiple Sclerosis can•t keep Linda from education. P ortland State University students have grown accustomed to seeing the happy, glowing, refreshing face of one of its most popular students. She glides quickly and confidently down the school's corridors as she says hello to passersby. Many students stop to chat with her and carry her books or aid her in other ways. Most, however, appear simply in awe of this young woman. Linda Akagi, Japanese American and 33 years old, is a paraplegic due to Multiple Sclerosis. Her illness was diagnosed very early and she doesn't remember much about her life before MS. However, she doesn't worry about it either or let her illness get her down. She's a determined, active woman, thrilled and ex– cited with life. One of her current activities includes fundraising for an organization for the handicapped called SOAR- Shared Outdoor Adventure Recrea– tion. Having attended Portland schools for 23 years, she eagerly awaits her graduation day. She attended Madison High School and graduated at age 23. She recalls being 18 while her fellow classmates were 14. She says she enjoyed Madison as much as she does PSU, but added that PSU could improve on its handicap accessibility. "The elevator buttons are too high", she said. This term Linda will be graduating with a BS in Psychology, her favorite subject. She highly recom– mends Professor Maynard, as he has a great degree of knowledge on the field's current issues and great empathy for people suffering psychologically. Although Linda was scheduled to graduate in June 1989, she suddenly became ill two months be– forehand. "I came home and my stomach was hurt– ing", she said. Her stomach pain resulted from an appendicitis and since she required surgery she was forced to stay out of school the entire term. A famil– iar problem for her. Although she's fully recovered now, she's constantly aware that obstacles such as 18 this are (llways present. Getting through college has required tremendous endurance and commit- ment, and Linda eagerly awaits its finality. She attendetl graduation ceremonies in June 1989, and can proudly display her graduation pictures. Now it's just a matter of wrapping up the ends by com– pletiri.g those classes she was required to drop. What's left for Linda? Well, in her own words, "No more school! It's time to move on. I want to get a job." Ideally, she'd like to work at the Oregon Health Sciences University and has put in applications there. She believes her greatest skills are in the research and clerical areas, and as usual, recognizes that she can do almost anything she desires. -Gwen Thompson.