12 years ago, I was a competitive figure skater chasing an Olympic dream.

That dream was wiped out in an instant at 14 years old when I ruptured two discs in my lumbar spine, but after 12 years of excruciating pain and recovery, I’m now chasing the pipe dream that I’ve had since I was a child: Racing.

Even with an injury and pain that I will carry for the rest of my life, I’ve made it my mission to prove to kids and other people suffering from a severe spine injury that it doesn’t have to stop you from chasing your dreams.

I refuse to let it stop me from chasing mine. Neither should you.