"Grace and Grit, A Young Athlete’s Fight for Life"
Rebounding, to race again
By Michael Vitez, Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer
Last of three parts.
http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/
20090623_Rebounding__to_race_again.html
His longtime girlfriend from Radnor High, Emily Privette, said:
"He seems to single-mindedly pursue his goals with the belief that he is in control of his own destiny. And, to achieve them, all that is required is that he always give his best."
...
Matt told his story to 300 students from third to eighth grade at a private school in Virginia where his uncle is a teacher.
Matt spent hours thinking about what he wanted to say.
Before the accident, he told them, "I pretty much thought that I was invincible and unstoppable."
He urged the students to wear a helmet, which had saved his life, and to take care of their bodies. His conditioning had speeded his recovery.
He emphasized the strength he drew from those around him:
"Honesty, hard work, going out of your way for others, doing the right thing at the right time, these are what will build strong relationships with others. And these relationships will not only bring you happiness every single day, but they will help save your life when you need them the most. It is not possible to exaggerate the importance of family and friends."
He encouraged the students to create a vision for their lives and work tirelessly toward it.
"We cannot decide what happens to us, but we can decide what happens in us," he said. "How we take the raw stuff of life and make it a thing of beauty. That is the test of living."
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