THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606210193
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 55 lines
Danielle Sweede may have problems with sight, but she does not lack vision. Sweede, who will turn 18 on June 30, was diagnosed with juvenile macular degeneration six years ago.
The disease hampers her sight significantly; her ambition, none at all. She wants to become a lawyer.
``Danielle has 20/200 vision corrected; 20/400, uncorrected,'' said her mother, Denise. ``She's legally blind.''
Because of her problem, Sweede had to sit in the front row all through school. She uses a magnifying glass to read small print, wears contact lenses and has poor distance vision.
``I had trouble seeing the chalkboard,'' she said. ``I would listen to the teacher and write down what was said.''
Despite her problem, Sweede finished at the head of her class. She was valedictorian of the 1996 graduating class at Tabernacle Baptist School. Attending a small school helped her immensely, in more ways than one.
``There were only 11 of us in the senior class,'' she said, commenting self-effacingly about her 3.6 grade point average. She took chemistry, trigonometry, British literature, journalism/yearbook, United States history, French III and Bible class during her senior year. She was class president, edited the yearbook, captained the cheerleaders and participated in debate.
Attending Tabernacle benefited her because classmates knew about her difficulty and helped her, said the teen who attended the school since first grade.
She got to know everyone there well, she said.
Classes are small and individual attention, not always possible at bigger schools, was provided by the Tabernacle teachers. Because she is unable to drive, she relies upon her parents, David and Denise Sweede, or friends for transportation from her home in Emerald Greens near the Greenbrier Country Club in Chesapeake. She has three sisters and one brother, all Tabernacle students.
A devout Independent Baptist, Danielle will leave for Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., for the fall semester and major in pre-law or possibly history. The school is noted for its seminary, but has a liberal arts program, too.
``I've been interested in law for quite a while,'' said Sweede. ``I read everything by John Grisham, so I've been influenced by him.''
She is impressed not only with the Mississippi lawyer's writing, but also by his life.
``He teaches Sunday school and is a family man,'' Sweede said. ``I want a family, too. Being rich wouldn't hurt, either.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Danielle Sweede, who is legally blind, will leave for Bob Jones
University in Greenville, S.C., for the fall semester and major in
pre-law or possibly history. by CNB