8 replies to this topic

[wheeliebear75]

Forgive me if this sounds like an oddball thing to ponder. I had noticed when I was younger and when I went to college, other young people still had this idea that they are bullerproof. The idea that "nothing bad will happen" is a notion believed by those who have never been hurt (or at least not seriously). On the otherhand once something really bad does happen it ends those lofty superhero childhood fantasies instantly. So any way I think that makes for a different transition from youth to adulthood. I'm interested in everyones' two cents, but would especially like some feedback from anybody who's SCI was before they hit 18 or 21.

[jules]

I had my accident at 15, and carried on and went to University. The university that I choose was Liverpool, which was a good 150 Miles from my parents home. I think I probably did as many silly things as my ab mates at the time (mostly booze induced). One of these silly things involved going to the famous Cavern Club which was the most inaccessible places I have ever been to, with a spiral staircase down to it. One of my Uni friends was also had an SCI he managed to hold on to both bannisters and get him self down backwards, whereas I fluttered my eyelashes at one of the bouncers, and he carried me down (by this time all my mates wer far to drunk to carry me). I calmed down and started being sensible once I left University and got a proper job.
Sorry this is a bit long winded.

Jules
x

[DarkAgdistis]

hi,

I've been a happy wheelchair user when I was 15 ... I can't say for sure what happened in my mond but my familly said that I went from teenage time to adult in a snap.

Apart from that, I went back to school ( university and so on ) when I've been able to push myself faster than a paraplegic turtle ...

DA

[Jessica mary frances]

I had my accident when I was 18. Before my accident, I never thought that I would get hurt. I missed most of my senior year b/c I was in the hospital or rehab. I was kinda pissed b/c senior yr is supposed to be the best year of your life. It wound up being my worst. I couldn't do the things I used to such as go away after prom to the Jersey shore ( I'm originally from NY) or sleep over someone's house. I also couldn't go a keg party after graduation b/c it wasn't accessible.

[cdngrl]

i had my accident when i was 28...and i wouldve been way more destructive if i knew than what i know now

[Texaswheelz]

i was injured at the age of 16. While I can't say wether or not i would have been more or less reckless if I hadn't been injured I can day i was as reckless as they come after being injured. I actually think I would have more sedated as I was a big jock that was trying to get a scholarship to college, so there was no drinking at all and I was a pretty safe guy. After my injury I didn't feel that need to try to be the good athlete that wanted a clean record for colleges to recruit.

My last two years in high school were pretty wild. The summer after I graduated was crazy and the first 3 years of college were nuts. I was dumb and I'm lucky to be alive or atleast not to have injured myself more or my friends. I was voted most fun to be with because i didn't really give a shit and felt that I was already as hurt as I could get. I would load people up in my car or truck and we'd drive around the back roads in the country drinking all night. We'd jump ditch's, go mudding in peoples pastures, chase cows(never caught one), it was just crazy. Then in college I had a huge party at my house once a month, went out partying 4-5 nights a week minimum for 3 years. I would have bets with AB's that I could go down more steps then they could in a chair. Of course most of them couldn't go down 3 or 4 without falling, but I'd fly off of 15-20 without thinking and was lucky enough to never crash. I'd never think about going down more then 4 or 5 now. By the time I hit 21(legal drinking age in US), I had drank plenty, but that didn't stop me from drinking more. The only times i really felt confident out in a crowd around other people was after I was pretty buzzed, wether it be alcohol or weed, so I pretty much stayed buzzed during those years.

I'd say I'm still that way when it comes to feeling completely confident around others or in a crowd. And since I rarely drink and haven't smoked any weed in years, it is seldom that i do. As as example I went out just last night with my younger brother and his friends for his b-day(22). I was their designated driver, we went to a strip club. This was the first time I've been to one sober or not high and there was a huge difference in how I acted and how the girls reacted to me. When I drink or smoke I'm the life of the party, or atleast I feel that I am. When I'm sober I feel like people look over me, wether because they don't notice me or because they are trying to. I've learned to live with that now, but when I was younger I couldn't deal with it and would rather be the life of the party so I did what ever it took to be that person.

So yea to the orginal question, even though i'd already been shown that I wasn't bulletproof, I thought that had already had my bad hand and was immune to another one. i got lucky and made it through those years without another one, but there were lots of close calls that scared the hell out of both me and the people with me. But we were young and stupid and kept it up. If I hadn't met my wife my 4th year in college I don't know where I'd be now.

[drizzt42]

I had my accident at age 20 which was caused by falling off a slide at a party. Until this point in time I lived a carefree indestructible lifestyle including partying, stunts, tae kwon do, and 15 years of playing the guitar. During the beginning months of my accident I was pretty much afraid to do anything thinking that I might hurt myself again. Now that a few years have passed and I am in the college life once again, I found that my opinion changed. I believe the accident taught me to be more responsible, but on the other hand I still try to do things that are fun even if a risk is involved. I guess I feel that I should enjoy life while I can.

[gsp23]

I didnt become a wheelchair user till 31 so I dont fall into this age category but I can say that it changed my life in that I was so obsessed with work, I was a major workaholic. I get paid salery so same pay weather I worked 40 or 100hrs. I used to work between 60-80hrs a week before and now realize there are more important things out there and really have changed my outlook on things. I now make time to relax or do things other than work I try to limit myself to 40hrs a week now.

[Big Valley]

"Youth is wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw