From being a social butterfly in college, to being named "Smiles" in rehab, I gained a new perspective on life that can be summed up by a Bruce H. Wilkinson quote: "People often feel that because they are afraid of something, they do not have the courage to conquer it. However, courage is not the absence of fear; rather it's choosing to act in spite of fear." The joy I've experienced as a result of conquering my fears has been incredible, and I no longer see myself as physically disabled, but physically able.