Portrait of perseverance

Mylie Green arrived at Wright State unsure she’d last a semester. Now she’s a Student Government senator, passionate advocate for students who need a voice and future teacher determined to make a difference in the classroom. (Photo by Erin Pence)

To those who don’t know her, it might seem as if the odds were stacked against Mylie Green. Born with a disability in the African nation of Ethiopia, Green’s life could have taken a completely different path.

As a toddler, Green was adopted by a family in Marysville, Ohio. But she was not the first or only child welcomed into the Green family home with love and open arms.

Green is one of 33 children. After having two biological children, Green’s parents adopted 31 children from eight countries in Asia, Africa and North America. Five of the children have disabilities, including Green. The oldest sibling is 42, while the youngest is 14.

“My parents felt called by God to adopt each of us into their home,” said Green. “Growing up was fun. It was different from everyone else.”

As a young adult, Green has fond memories of family vacations, holidays and other shared experiences with her brothers and sisters. She views her family as her biggest supporters.

“My family never saw my disability as an excuse to not accomplish something,” said Green. “They encouraged me to overcome challenges.”

Green has schizencephaly, a rare birth defect that caused a cleft on one side of her brain. This resulted in Green having a speech impediment and lack of movement on the left side of her body.

Simple daily activities for most people, like driving a car or doing their hair, are more challenging for Green.

“It affected my mental health and upset me at times,” Green recalled. “I always have to work harder to get the same results as everyone else.”

As her ever-present cheerleaders, Green’s family has always told her: “You can do it; just find a different way to do it.”

When it was time to start thinking about college, Green gravitated toward Wright State University.

One of her sisters had been a student at Wright State, and she was aware of the university’s outstanding reputation for serving students with disabilities.

For Green, the transition to college life was not an easy one.

“I felt alone,” she said, “because it was difficult to adapt to my new normal.”

When she first arrived on Wright State’s campus in fall 2023, she struggled to get out of her comfort zone.

“I was a little bit of an introvert. I liked to stay in my own space, sit back, and not talk much,” she recalled.

In October 2023, she was appointed the student representative on the Disability Digital Accessibility Committee.

While this experience helped Green come out of her shell a little bit, she was apprehensive about returning for her second semester.

“My gut was telling me to stay here,” she said.

In Spring Semester, Green took a completely different approach. She attended more events, went out with her friends and met new people.

Then she was asked to interview for the Dean’s Student Advisory Board in the College of Health, Education and Human Services.

“This was a great opportunity to get outside of my comfort zone,” she said.

The following year, she got more involved with the Black Student Union and remained active with the Dean’s Student Advisory Board.

By the second semester of her sophomore year, Green had made a complete turnaround. In 2025, she was honored by the former Women’s Center as one of the Women of Wright State. The initiative recognized 10 individuals, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners who made significant contributions to the well-being of women on campus and beyond.

“I was very honored,” said Green.

The elementary education major continued to become more involved on campus, serving as the College of Health, Education and Human Services’ senator for the Student Government Association and as the Black Student Union’s designee in the House of Representatives.

Through her campus advocacy, Green is proud to represent women, people of color and individuals with disabilities.

“You don’t see a lot of people like me in leadership roles,” said Green.

The young woman who almost left Wright State after her first semester has now accomplished more than she could have ever imagined. And she credits her disability with helping her persevere.

“My disability has taught me so much,” said Green. “It has taught me how to work harder and not give up — to be determined and disciplined in everything that I do.”

As a future teacher, Green will continue to fight for inclusion and acceptance for all students. She can’t imagine herself doing anything else.

“I just want to teach and help kids,” said Green, who expects to graduate in spring 2027. “I want to help people who can’t advocate for themselves.”

If Green is as dedicated to teaching as she has been to leaving her mark at Wright State, there is no doubt that she will make a difference in the lives of her students for years and decades to come.