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RHMS students are inspired to follow their dreams

Keynote speaker Trish Downing and eighth grade teacher Rick Johnson at the RHMS Career Day assembly.


Article and photo by Amy Shanahan

October 26 was a special day for the seventh and eighth grade students at Rocky Heights Middle School as 40 volunteers came to the school to speak to the students about their chosen careers. Career Day is an event that the kids look forward to every year, and this year was particularly inspiring.

Keynote speaker Tricia Downing kicked off the day with an amazing story of resolve, will-power and determination. Downing was a competitive cyclist who was hit head-on by a car while on a training ride in Golden, CO. She sustained a spinal cord injury, which left her paralyzed from the chest down. Trish is now a paraplegic athlete, and was the first female paraplegic to complete an Iron distance triathlon.

Her story of following her dream to be a competitive athlete despite her enormous set-back touched the hearts of the students and teachers who were fortunate enough to hear her speak. Eighth grade math teacher Rick Johnson remarked, “Through my years of coaching and teaching, I have met many inspirational people and athletes who have had to overcome many obstacles, but I’ve never met anyone as positive and motivated as Trish Downing. She is a great athlete, has a powerful story, but most importantly, she is an awesome woman for sharing her life with us all.”

Following the keynote speech, the students had the opportunity to take part in four different breakout sessions, each featuring a speaker from a various profession or career. Whether meeting with an electrician, orthodontist, K-9 unit officer, hairdresser, or rocket scientist, each student received a small sampling of the possibilities that await them.

The clear message from Trish Downing and all of the speakers was one that encouraged the kids to follow their dreams, live their own unique lives, and strive for the best.

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