CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- 18-year-old Ellie Romine, who attended Lucy Beckham High School, is one of thousands of students who graduated from the Charleston County School District (CCSD) this past weekend.
And although life presented challenges — Romine was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child — she now hopes to inspire others.
“Don’t let your limitations limit you,” she said.
Romine has found her passion in teaching, a career choice she was not sure she would be able to pursue one day.
“I was born with a stroke in utero or after birth that caused a lack of oxygen to my brain,” she said. “It caused a condition called cerebral palsy. I got diagnosed at around eighteen months to two years.”
Romine’s condition is now considered a mild case, something she says she is “really grateful” for.
Walking the halls of Lucy Beckham, Romine said she faced many challenges in school.
“I had problems with my gait and walking. I had a hard time with speech. I was in speech occupational and physical trying to help those. I had a challenge with school, writing is a struggle with me, so I type everything, but nothing has really stopped me. If I want to do it, I find a way,” she said.
She did find a way, chartering her own course and taking up extracurricular activities along way.
“I might have to find a different way to do stuff, but it’s not going to stop me,” Romine said. “I wanted to cheer in eighth grade, my mom said no, not a good idea, but I knew I could do it, so I went to the interest meeting anyway. I knew I could do it, and I’ve cheered for three years.”
“I’ve been successful with that. I’m involved in clubs, and sports, and I’m a Beckham ambassador.My experience has been really great. I can say I’ve had a really great high school experience,” she continued.
When she’s not in school, Romine works at Chick-fil-A.
“Ellie is a model of what persistence, and optimism, and faith can do for a person,” Principal Anna Dassing said. “Ellie is an incredible young woman. She came to us as a timid freshman in the middle of the pandemic. Ellie has her challenges and the things she works through. She has grown so much as a person and as a young woman, so we’re very proud of her.”
Now, thanks to Lucy Beckham’s inaugural Teacher Cadets program, Romine has her heart set on another goal: becoming a teacher.
News 2 joined Romine for a class presentation about her experience a student teacher at James B. Edwards Elementary for three weeks.
“It was the best three weeks of my high school experience,” she said. “I enjoyed it so much.”
Romine taught in a preschool interventions class, a group of three-to-five-year-old students with various disabilities.
“I was kind of nervous going into it that I wouldn’t be respected, or I couldn’t do it, because I can’t write or when I get tired, my legs might give out,” she said. “But it was really fun, and I can do it. And I found out, I’m really good at it. All my fears went away. Shows people that people can do anything they want.”
“Ellie came in with such grace and poise, and took it own with no qualms,” teacher Charlotte Laird said. “I think it speaks very highly of her, and the type of individual she is. She wasn’t intimidated, and classrooms such as this one can be intimidating, especially for someone as young as Ellie. We’re just so proud of everything she’s done and accomplished and can’t wait to see what she does in the future.”
Erica Becker, Lucy Beckham’s Teacher Cadets instructor, said Romine has the “it” factor required to become a successful educator.
“She’s an incredible student, and friend, and she’s going to be an amazing teacher,” Becker said. “It takes a special somebody to be a teacher, and she’s got it.”
“It’s been awesome. I couldn’t ask for better teachers,” Romine said. “They’re so accommodating here. It feels like one big family. They definitely have the best of the best for the teachers here.”
And it isn’t just at school where Romine feels the love.
“I hit the jackpot with my parents. I love them so much. They have been so supportive. They have loved me unconditionally for the past 18 years…I am what I am today because of them and my siblings,” she said.
The graduating senior is also a CHAMP Awards recipient, an award that recognizes “struggling students who have done a lot of great things, overcome odds, exemplified character, made good grades, achieved amazing things but were never recognized.”
“It makes me so excited for the future, and what I can do for kids like me, just show them the love I was given here at Beckham,” she said. “I’m so pumped and excited.”
Romine plans to attend Charleston Southern University to pursue a major in elementary education, and has a message for others as she begins this new journey:
“You can do whatever you put your mind to. Hopefully, I’ll be back teaching in the Charleston County School District. Don’t let your limitations limit you.”
