April 2024

One of the things I've learned from working as a mentor for the past two years is that the mentor-peer relationship is symbiotic; each party benefits in different ways. For the peer, they get to learn helpful tips and tricks for living with paralysis from someone who is similar to them. They also get to see someone continue to build a fulfilling life after sustaining such a life-altering injury. As a mentor, I benefit from this relationship by feeling as if I'm making a difference.

When something like a traumatic life experience happens, your mindset can be altered or influenced in many different directions. Oftentimes someone has a much larger perspective on life after a traumatic life experience because so much life has been lived in a short amount of time. The person starts to see more than just the "normal" way of life; they start to see everything that affects their daily living activities.