Post by Rachel Deacon on Dec 17, 2014 15:43:47 GMT -8
RACHELGRACEDEACON
<<Played by Rachel>>
Shine a light through an open door
Full Name>> Rachel Grace Deacon
Nicknames>> Rae (Ray)
Age>> 5th February 1999 (15)
Staff or Student>> Student
House>> Red
Gender>> Female
Sexuality>> Asexual
Face Claim>> Allison Scagaliotti
Turn away 'cause I need you more
Personality>> Rachel is, by nature, a very quiet girl, but one shouldn't confuse the fact that she's quiet with a lack of ambition or determination. She has determination in spades just to get through each and every day. She doesn't interact much with others, preferring the company of a few individuals over a group to avoid overloading her senses. In between classes, she can generally be found waiting outside her next class with one earphone in or, if time allows, out visiting her horse in the barn.
On the occasion that she does interact with people, she will say little to those she doesn't know, but becomes more open and friendly with those she's more familiar with. She can be quite sensitive about certain issues, but instead of bringing up the fact that she is offended or upset, generally keeps it to herself, meaning that she will have the occasional blow up at someone.
When she loses her bearings and becomes disorientated, Rachel can become quite panicked. For this reason, she doesn't like leaving places she knows well and can navigate by memory.
Likes>> Spending time with her horse, listening to music, audiobooks, succeeding, managing to do her homework without too many mistakes.
Dislikes>> Crowds, disorientation, people moving the furniture, loud background noise, wearing gloves
Fears>> Having to go back to living with her parents, losing her horse
Hopes>> Compete in international paradressage, that medical technology will make some kind of breakthough that will let her see.
Secrets>> She really wants to try jumping.
It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
Appearance>> Despite being of average height, Rachel often looks quite small because of the way she holds herself. She very rarely looks up or at people when she's talking to them as she never got into the habit. She wears her dark brown hair to just below the shoulder blade and usually pulled back into a ponytail so that it doesn't get in the way. Because her blindness is to do with the optic nerves and not her eyes, she still has dark brown irises, which could give the impression that she can actually see. Her clothes tend to be very simple, favouring black jeans and t-shirts or sweaters in blacks, purples and blues (her mother's choice originally. It's hard to clash when your entire wardrobe is composed of three colours). When riding, the only things that change is that she swaps her jeans for jodhpurs and her trainers for boots.
Markings>> None.
But I’ve gotta let it go
Medical History>> Neurological Vision Impairment - her optic nerves didn't form properly and left her without any degree of sight. She has had her fair share of falls, just like any rider, but apart from a concussion or two, has suffered no major injury.
Criminal History>> None
Full History>>
Rachel was born in Canada as the third of three children to a hard-working civil engineer and a lawyer. While both of her brothers were born without problems, the diagnosis that Rachel would be blind hit her parents hard. It came as no surprise that while they wanted her to lead as normal a life as possible, they were also over-protective of her. Everything that she did had to be carefully planned out in advance, from going to school to having a friend over for dinner.
Hearing her brothers talking about their joint hobby, playing hockey, Rachel asked her parents for a hobby that she could participate in, that could be hers. Since her parents considered many sports to be either outwith her abilities or too dangerous, they chose what they thought would be a safe option: horse riding. After all, the horses selected for the Riding for the Disabled program had been carefully vetted for suitability, and there was always someone there.
Rachel fell in love with the sport from the first time she sat on the horse she had been assigned and, after several years of hard practise, began to pester her parents for a horse of her own to compete on, wanting to go further than the riding school horses could take her.
She overheard a few girls at the riding school talking about Blue Ridge Academy and, after researching it, brought the possibility of her attending to her parents. Although they were hesitant at first about accepting, they also knew that, at some point, Rachel was going to have to leave home and learn how to cope on her own. Might as well have a stepping stone like the Academy to test the waters, right?
We found love in a hopeless place
Pet Name>> Ghost
Registered Name>> /
Age>> 4
Gender>> Male (neutered)
Species>> Canine
Breed>> German Shepherd
Registry>> Guide Dogs of America
Personality>> Ghost is a very intelligent and loyal dog who was matched to Rachel by the GDA after careful testing to make sure that they would be able to work together. Extensively trained to do his job, Ghost is alert and focused. When the harness comes off and he's allowed to revert to a non-working state, he loves nothing better than for Rachel to throw his ball for him. Land or water, he will get that ball back!
History>> Ghost was born at the GDA facility and raised by an approved foster family before going into the Guide Dog training program. At the age of two and a half, he was ready to be matched to his new master. At that point, Rachel had tried two other service dogs, but hadn't found the right one for her, until she tried working with Ghost. The two of them clicked, and Ghost went home with her to start his new job as her eyes.
Appearance>> HERE
