Joanna's Miracle
The AUEB (Athens University of Economics and Business) graduate achieved her goal, overcoming the obstacles bequeathed to her by nature. Her example touches the soul of our Group and, for this reason, we were happy to contribute to the realization of another dream she had – free movement.
Her schedule was that of any Greek university student. From 2015-2016, when she was admitted to the Marketing & Communication Department of the Athens University of Economics and Business until her graduation in 2020, Joanna Sollakou used to travel the same route hundreds of times, from her home in Nikaia to the university. She had to change 3 means of transport to go the university and another 3 on her way back. He had “studied” every carriage and every bus, as if they were just another university course she had to pass. However, this particular course was hard to walk through. Literally.
Because the currently 27-year-old Joanna was not just “any” student, even if that is how she would prefer to be seen. Having congenital dyskinetic cerebral palsy (spastic quadriplegia) and an overall disability rate of 85%, she faces difficulties in gross and fine mobility. Joanna, however, can communicate and has normal intelligence.
On all these journeys to and from university over the years, Joanna had her mother by her side. Her mother tirelessly accompanied her to her courses and recorded the lectures, so that Joanna could refer to the recordings whenever she needed to. At the same time, her mother took notes in large letters so that they would be legible to her daughter. Joanna studied and prepared for exams by listening to the recordings and reading her mother’s notes. She sat the exams orally, without anyone else by her side. And she managed to get her degree in four years!
Joanna’s story is an inspiration for every human, every individual with or without mobility problems, who wants to move forward in their life and become a better version of themselves. She also inspired us in Motodynamics when we were informed about her achievements through our cooperation with the liaison office of the Athens University of Economics and Business.
We exist precisely for this reason, after all: to offer choice to those who move from one place to another, from one situation to another, from one way of living to another. To those who progress, evolve, surpass themselves and are often surprised to discover their own distinct charcteristics and abilities.
Joanna’s story touches our Group’s soul. This is why we are very happy to have contributed to the realization of another dream of hers, as her teachers conveyed it to us: to get her own car so she can move around freely with her family.
Joanna does not herself drive the car we granted her from our SIXT Group company fleet. Her example, however, leads us all in the only direction we have chosen – that of mobility which leads to transformation and to a miracle of nature, like what Joanna really is…
