Green Beret and amputee inspirational speaker Nick Lavery brought a message of perseverance to students last Thursday in the Lamar P. Higgins Ballroom.
Lavery currently serves as a United States Army Special Forces Warrant Officer and Assistant Detachment Commander. He has won awards such as the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Defense Meritorious Medal and the Bronze Stars.
Lavery overcame the impossible after suffering an extensive injury from an inside attack of his team’s camp in a 2013 Afghanistan deployment.
This attack resulted in Lavery losing his leg. After recovery, he was recognized as the first ever above-the-knee amputee to return to combat as an active-duty member of United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets.
“It really just blows your mind,” Lavery said. “I sit back at times, even though I'm one of them, thinking how did we get so lucky as a society, where we have men and women that are willing to volunteer to put themselves through extreme suffering.
“It's amazing. They push themselves to the absolute extreme limit of human capability and then go beyond it.”
Lavery talked about the importance of having a sense of purpose.
“There's a sense of purpose I have, being a part of something bigger than yourself that creates an impact for someone else other than yourself,” Lavery said. This game of life we all get to play is not a dress rehearsal.
“We have one shot, so why not leave it all on the table?”
One thing Lavery emphasized during his speech is how often people limit themselves from reaching their highest potential.
“There is no such thing as impossible,” Lavery said. “The only things that are actually impossible are the things you decide are impossible in your own mind.”
Lavery shared with the students why it was important for him to return to combat after losing his leg in 2013.
“Freedom is not free, and I believe that freedom comes with a cost,” Lavery said. “Blood sweat, tears – somebody is paying those costs, otherwise, the world you and I know collapses.
“It fills my heart with so much pride and love. I love what I get to do.”
Cassidy O’Neal, a senior in Troy’s Airforce ROTC program, attended the event Thursday with her commander and fellow classmates.
“It was so inspirational,” O’Neal said. “He went through everything under the stars that you could imagine that would make you want to give up, and he didn’t.
“He beat death multiple times and just seeing that makes you feel like all your problems that you have right now are so insignificant. There's nothing we should be afraid to do. Your life is your life and live it how you want to live it.”
Rosa Noles, counsellor of Blount County High School, travelled from Blount County, Alabama with Blount County High School Ambassadors to hear Lavery speak.
“I enjoyed it very much,” Noles said. “I'm all about motivational speakers, and he just touched my heart.”
Noles hopes her students know they can achieve anything they put their minds to, no matter the obstacles it may come with.
“It's your mindset over everything,” Noles said. “Our kids are bombarded with so much negativity nowadays, but I hope they realize the power they have within.
“You’re in control of your destiny, and you can reach it if you really want it.”
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