09/01/2026
One accomplishment I never expected after my accident was getting to the point where I could truly look forward to my future again. There was a time when every day was focused on surgeries, physical therapy, and just getting through recovery. I wasn’t thinking years ahead because my only goal was to get better. Now, I’m getting ready to start college, make new friends, join clubs, and pursue nursing. That's something I’m incredibly proud of because it represents years of hard work, perseverance, and rehabilitation. I’m also proud of the everyday accomplishments that people don’t always see. Using my forearm crutch to become more independent, continuing physical therapy years later, and getting out with my friends this summer are all victories that remind me how far I’ve come. Recovery has taught me that accomplishments aren’t always the big milestones. Sometimes they’re the little moments that once seemed impossible but now feel like part of everyday life. Those are the moments I’m most proud of.
The thing I’m looking forward to most in college is finally getting to experience a new chapter that, at one point, I wasn’t sure would be possible. There was a time when my days revolved around surgeries, physical therapy, and doctor’s appointments. College felt so far away, and sometimes it was hard to imagine what my future would look like.
During high school, because of my recovery and all of my surgeries, I spent a lot of time in the hospital or recovering at home. I wasn’t always able to participate in clubs or school activities the way I wanted to because my health had to come first. While I still made the most of my high school experience, I definitely feel like I missed out on some of those opportunities. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited for college. I see it as a fresh start and a chance to make up for some of that lost time. I’m looking forward to joining clubs, making new friends, building connections, and really getting involved on campus. I want to experience college in my own way and create memories that I wasn’t always able to have during high school.
I’m also incredibly excited to start nursing school. My own healthcare journey inspired me to want to care for others. I hope that one day I can be the kind of nurse who understands what patients are going through because I’ve been in their shoes. Later on, I’d love to become a physical therapist and help people regain their independence, just like so many people helped me regain mine. I know my college experience will look a little different. I’ll be using my electric wheelchair to help me get around campus, and I’ll continue balancing school with my recovery. But I’ve learned that asking for accommodations or doing things differently doesn’t make the experience any less meaningful, it simply allows me to fully participate. To me, college represents so much more than earning a degree. It’s a reminder that even after everything I’ve been through, my dreams are still possible. Rehabilitation didn’t just help me heal, it helped me build the future I’ve always dreamed of.
