attitude is everything in life
My name is Ian Malesiewski and I am paralyzed from the chest down. On June 3, 2016, I suffered a traumatic neck/spinal cord injury while wrestling in the Cadet World Team Trials at the University of Akron; I was trying to earn a spot to represent the United States of America in Bourges, France. Unlike most, I try to look at my circumstance not as a catastrophe, but more as a journey and chance for me to grow intellectually and emotionally, and hopefully empower other people along the way.
Although this injury may have hindered me physically, it has opened me up to things I never thought were possible. Yes, I might not be able to be the tough guy on the wrestling mat anymore, but I can be the MAN that changes other people’s lives. As cliché as it sounds, I believe attitude is everything in life, and we have the choice to either feel sorry for ourselves or make the most of our opportunities.
Next year I will be attending the University of Miami where I plan to study neuroscience and hopefully attend med school!
