VROOM! Senior Nia Scott turns the key that gives her car life. She takes a deep breath. In, out. No fear.  This is going to be a good drive. She turns on her favorite radio station the songs and voices help keep her stress level low.  Another deep breath. In. Out. No fear. She looks at her left arm, then her right. Her mother sits in the front seat. Her presence is another stress reliever. Deep breath. In. Out.

Scott shifts her car into gear and pulls out of her driveway. No fear.

Driving with myoclonic jerk disorder, an illness that causes Scott’s right or left shoulder and sometimes even her arms, to go in an upward motion without her control is scary, but Scott is courageous.

“I wouldn’t mind if I got hurt,” Scott said. “But if it was someone else’s life I don’t know what I would do.”

According to Scott, her illness is often triggered by stress, so every day she works to keep her stress level down on and off the road, but with school and college applications running rampant in her life the jerks are becoming increasingly difficult to control.

The medication Scott was once prescribed caused her to experience depression and suicidal thoughts, so now she does not take anything for her illness, according to Scott.

“Nia is such a happy person,” senior Courtney Linscott said.”She is a joy to have in the classroom and brightens everyone’s day with her enthusiastic comments and wit.”

Scott  performs in many drama shows including Rockhurst’s production of “the Crucible” and the Kansas City Shakespeare festival. Myoclonic jerk disorder does not drive her life.

Now she has her permit. No fear.