Life Lessons from Rick Hansen

Seeing Rick Hansen in Halifax made me very emotional, as he told his story of overcoming loss of ability. He was paralyzed at the age of fifteen, and it's crazy to think that someone so young could have their life shaken up as much as his was. It had fazed Rick quite a lot at the start, he thought his basketball career was over, and he couldn't do all of the things he was used to the same way, as he would be soon in a wheelchair.

On his 16th birthday after spending 2 months laying down in his hospital bed, his birthday wish became a reality. He sat up on his own, something that must've been so life changing.

From all the trauma he went through, Rick took his accident as something that shouldn't stop him from doing anything that he wants to do. Along with many things he has adapted to, Rick still enjoys his previous hobbies like fishing, and has even bungee jumped with Rick Mercer! He showed to our class that life has no limits, and it's truly a touching message and lesson that will stay with me forever.

- Lauren