Nick Scott – How did you handle going back to school?

Going back to school was one of the toughest things in my life. Because seeing everybody doing the things I used to do just killed me inside. And even seeing the boyfriends and the girlfriends walking with their fingers interlocked, I realized I couldn’t do that anymore. I mean, what’s she going to do, put her hand on my shoulder and push me? So, it was a reality check. The simple things—putting bags and stuff, and your books in the locker is so difficult for me, so I carried a backpack on the back of the wheelchair that carried all my books. For my junior year, since I was 16, I only went a half-a-day, and my senior year I went a full day. But, just eating lunch in the cafeteria, I wouldn’t do it. I felt like a freak, so I went into my coach’s office, and ate there during the lunch, and I did that for the entire year so no one would see me. I graduated on time. I was given a choice to either to skip a year and graduate later, or get tutored in the beginning and then graduate with my class. And that’s exactly what I did; I got tutored and I graduated with my class.