Disabled teen crowned Homecoming queen in awesome way

Jessica Saggio | Florida Today

Show Caption Hide Caption Disabled teen crowned homecoming queen in awesome way High school senior Jazzmin Samuel was hoping she'd be crowned homecoming queen. She has cerebral palsy and has never felt like she fit in at school. What happened during the crowning ceremony will warm your heart.

VIERA, Fla. -- Jazzmin Samuel is used to being ignored.

For much of her 17-year journey, the Viera High School teenager has struggled to fit in. Not many kids her age know how to treat someone with cerebral palsy.

Although she is not mentally impaired in any way, Jazzmin is often treated as such, according to her longtime aide, Dona Jones. But Jazzmin is in honors classes, has an A/B average and has a group of supportive friends. At past schools, she was often ignored or treated like she had a learning disability, Jones said. But the teen who uses a wheelchair seems to have found her place since transferring to Viera High about 18 months ago.

This year, a friend nominated Jazzmin for Homecoming Court and with overwhelming support, she made the cut. Students campaigned for her to be queen, and she waited with anticipation to see if she would wear the crown.

At Friday's homecoming game, the court rode to the middle of the field in a Chevrolet Corvette. Jazzmin needed some extra help from her brother, who delicately helped move her wheelchair out of the car and on to the 50-yard line. The crowd stood to their feet and cheered for Jazzmin as she lined up with the other candidates. The electric moment nearly brought Jones to tears as Jazzmin's face lit up with a smile.

Wow, it's fun to be popular," Jazzmin told Jones.

The crown glistened in the glow of the Friday night lights and with great anticipation the queen was named.

It wasn't Jazzmin.

The Viera High School Homecoming Queen was Caia Gillett, a 17-year-old senior whom she had just met that night.

But what happened next would bring the crowd to tears.

Caia, like many teenage girls, had also hoped to be queen and this was her moment. But she turned to Principal Mike Alba and said, "Am I allowed?"

"It's your crown, You're welcome to do with it what you wish," he replied.

She looked to Jazzmin, took off her crown and leaned over, placing the crown atop Jazzmin's head. The crowd roared.

"I couldn't believe it, it was awesome," said Jazzmin, who can only communicate through typing into a computer.

She finally felt at home, Jones said. Caia's selfless gesture was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

"I thought it was important to make Jazz's experience just as great as mine had already been," Caia said. "I really think she deserves it because she's such a beautiful person."

After Caia handed over the crown, tears were shed across the stadium, Jones said.

"I've never seen a bigger smile on her face," said Jones, who admitted to shedding a few tears herself. "Even when we were waiting, people were coming up to her and telling her how beautiful she looked and she felt like she was one of them, like everyone else. She doesn't like to be treated like she has a disability or a baby. She wants to blend in with everyone else, and this was a chance for her to do that."

For Jazzmin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, it was a dream ending to an improbable night — a teenage experience so many with her condition may never know.

"These kids just embrace her and they make it possible for her to do all these things," Jones said. "Jazzmin's loving it. She feels like she belongs."

As for Caia, she is somewhat of a hero to her peers. She said her parents were proud and it wasn't really something she had planned.

"They were so amazed at what I did and I was even more amazed at the impact it made on everyone," Caia said.

And that it did. Dozens of students posted on social media praising Caia with a virtual pat on the back and celebrating with Jazzmin. It was a selfless act, said Alba, and although Caia gave up her position as queen, she will forever be remembered for having the grace and compassion of royalty.

"It was a very touching moment for everyone that was in attendance," he said. "We've got great kids here and this is another great example of them getting outside of themselves."

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