Ryan Schilling '02: An Indomitable Spirit
If you want to accomplish something, you will find a way.
If you don’t, you will find an excuse.
Ryan Schilling's senior quote
Twice this morning at graduation, Ryan Schilling, smiling as always, walked proudly across the stage to receive honors he so richly deserved. First, there was the Dr. Martha E. Kolbe Award for loyalty, integrity, and determination. His faculty and classmates, then the large crowd in attendance, rose to offer a heartfelt ovation. A few minutes later, he accepted his Collegiate diploma, a tangible reminder that great things come to those who weather the storm.
To Ryan, his loving family, and a legion of admiring friends, the day represented not just a rite of passage but a celebration of extraordinary courage and an absolute refusal to capitulate when faced with the daunting challenges of life. Simply put, it marked a glorious victory of the human spirit.
"Once I came out of the coma and became aware of my surroundings," he said, "I realized that the only way to improve was to be a fighter. I almost died that first night, but God must have had a special purpose for me."
After 10 days in intensive care, he moved briefly to a private room, then to Children’s Hospital where he remained for five weeks receiving physical therapy to strengthen his legs, occupational therapy for his arms, and speech therapy concentrating on cognitive rehabilitation.
In early April, he walked using the parallel bars. In May, he could navigate with a cane. Once home but still in regular outpatient rehab, he returned to school a few hours a week in a wheelchair. Early on, he had difficulty even recognizing letters of the alphabet, but in tiny increments, his intellectual faculties returned.
Though his support system was strong, his progress positive and his resolve unwavering, there were still uncertainties about his potential. Somewhere along the way, the rehab team cautioned the Schillings that Ryan probably couldn’t return to Collegiate and advised them to consider special education elsewhere.
When medical science said he couldn’t, Ryan said, in effect, I can. Throughout the summer, Ryan, now moving without his cane, religiously continued his physical rehab and received intensive tutoring in hopes of getting him back on track academically. Although there was no transcendent moment or quantum leap, by August he had improved so much that the possibility of realigning with his class was no longer a dream.
Back in school full time, he attacked his academics with a vengeance and availed himself of a few accommodations such as extra time for an occasional test and one-on-one help when necessary. Though his teachers were sensitive to his situation, no one cut him slack. True to his spirit, he expected none.
This spring with an acceptance letter to Hampden-Sydney in his file, he completed his senior project as an aide at Children’s Hospital. He’s walked the walk, and he brought empathy and expertise to his chosen assignment.
Traveling a path that’s been long and devious, Ryan has succeeded because he has the right stuff. He is incredibly tenacious and indefatigable, and he blends a seriousness of purpose with optimism, a delightful sense of humor, and an absolute refusal to submit to self-pity. And even in the darkest days, he always manages to find a way.
--Weldon Bradshaw wbradsha@collegiate-va.org
