Johnathan Aubrey has spent a lifetime overcoming obstacles in education.
It was enough that Aubrey, 26, was born with cerebral palsy, which meant it took him longer than most to learn how to read and write.
When Aubrey was in first grade, he was hit by a car. He landed in the hospital with a broken leg and, worse, two skull fractures.
He had to relearn how to pronounce words and how to read. "It took me a while to catch up," Aubrey said.
In the meantime, his mother, Margaret, had back problems. All of the combined medical bills amounted to losing the family home in West Jordan.
In junior high, kids were saying "all kinds of things" as they teased Aubrey about his palsy. "I don't remember what they said because I don't dwell on it," he said.
To see Aubrey walking down the street, you might not notice anything different. His slowed speech is a giveaway that there is something wrong.
As Aubrey explains it, having palsy means his muscles sometimes don't fully receive messages from the brain or that communication between the two functions takes longer.
"I read, write and talk a little slower than most people," he said. Homework, tests and quizzes normally take Aubrey longer than most. But he also sees his condition as a positive thing.
"Something I've had to learn is, because my voice is a little different, I can get someone's attention," he said. "And once they listen to what I have to say, as long as it's important, they'll take the time to listen because they'll realize the magnitude of what I'm saying."
It's an attitude that has helped throughout his academic career.
Aubrey graduated from Davis High School and on Thursday he received his degree from Weber State University — in between he served a mission in Arizona for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Aubrey graduated from WSU with a 3.4 GPA, a double major in economics and English and was the student academic vice president in his final year. His goal this November is to win a seat in the Utah Legislature.
Finishing college is an accomplishment that makes him particularly proud, since there were those who said he couldn't do it.
"I actually, for a while, thought they were right," Aubrey said.
But he managed to mix a full class load with the rigors of student government, which he calls a full-time job, and to graduate in four years, also not common these days. Professors were also helpful.
The school's disability center wrote letters for Aubrey, explaining his situation. As a result, he was allowed more time on tests.
Money was a problem, but after filling out the right paperwork, the state ended up paying for part of his tuition. Another obstacle, another solution.
"Everyone, no matter who they are, they have a disability," Aubrey said. "If people have faith, whatever their obstacle or disability, they'll find a way around it."
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com