O Magazine
Live Your Best Life – oprah.com

Written By: Rebecca Thompson

Music today means many different things to many different people. There are a number of music genres from classical to hip hop. Specific songs touch our hearts and inspire. For one college student, the song “I'm Gonna Live” by Maryjo Mundy has done just that.

Mikaela Stevens is 20 and attends Brigham Young University-Idaho. She's a communication major and enjoys music as much as the next young adult. When she heard “I'm Gonna Live” at the opening ceremony for the 2009 Special Olympics she was blown away.

“It feels really good to listen to. It's one of those inspirational songs and I always love to sing along,” Mikaela said.

The Special Olympics celebrated its 41st anniversary in 2009. They have athletes that compete all over the world during this special event.

“Special Olympics is a global force, powered by passion,” said J. Brady Lum the President and COO of the Special Olympics. “Not many multinational companies can accomplish the global feats this movement is able to do with minimal funds and minimal staff, all while facing enormous obstacles like the general lack of understanding and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.”

According to the 2008 Annual Special Olympics Report North America had over 600 thousand athletes compete in 2008. The total number of athletes around the world was just over 3 million.

“Even though these athletes have disabilities, they live every moment to the fullest,” Mikaela said.

Medically, anyone under the height of 4 feet 10 inches has Dwarfism. Mikaela is under this height limit. She faces her own obstacles everyday but she doesn't let her so called condition get in the way of living her life.

“I'm not going to let a moment pass without giving my all, without living my life. Be the best you can be,” Mikaela said.

When asked why this song inspires her Mikaela said, “ It really makes me think how I'm living day to day. Life is a gift. I'm blessed and I need to be grateful for every moment because life goes by fast.”