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A brother and sister, both Gaither High graduates in June, choose separate paths for their new lives.
By SHERYL KAY
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 28, 2001
NORTHDALE -- While many people strive to be different and unique, 21-year-old Erik Nichols does his best to fit in.
We met up with Erik, who has Down's syndrome, as he was preparing to graduate from Gaither High School in June with his younger sister, Lindsey. He celebrated with hundreds of his classmates at a Splash Bash at Adventure Island.
"It was just great," said their mother, Teri Nichols of Northdale. "He didn't get home till about 4 in the morning."
Since then Lindsey, 18, has decided to enter Hillsborough Community College in January. She plans to major in elementary education.
Erik entered Burdines' training program for specially challenged adults. He works on the docks, learning all aspects of shipping and receiving, and hopes to graduate in May.
All four members of the Nichols family continue to study tae kwon do, and they are pursuing second-degree black belts.
"Erik's been working really hard on that," Mrs. Nichols said, although his interest in the martial art is beginning to fade.
He'll have little trouble filling his time. Erik was recently assigned a companion through a state-sponsored program for challenged individuals.
"They have a standing date Thursday nights," said Mrs. Nichols. "They go bowling, to the mall, to the movies -- whatever Erik wants to do. He loves it because he gets to get away from Mommy and Daddy and his sister. . . . His companion is his own friend, and that helps his self-esteem big time."
Eventually, she expects he will move into a group home, but she is in no hurry to take that step. "We don't want to change too much too fast."