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It was a big day for Quincey Snyder.
And of course, big days need special shoes.
It was graduation day for the 18-year-old Rifle senior.
Graduation is special for everyone who earns a diploma. It's one of those lifetime memories.
Of course, memories like this deserve a party. And naturally, what could be better than celebrating with a root beer float.
“Three of them,” Quincey says with a laugh.
Sunday's graduation was another milestone for Quincey.
As her mom Michele says, “Large goals and small steps.”
Actually, Sunday was a huge step for Quincey.
This milestone was so much more than just picking up a diploma.
By now, most are familiar with this story of courage, faith, resolve and determination. On Dec. 30, 2008, while on a family vacation, Quincey suffered a spinal cord injury while diving into the Caribbean Sea. She was paralyzed.
On Sunday afternoon, Quincey's comeback took another step.
As the name was announced — “Quincey Snyder,” — the large crowd and 125 other Rifle High School graduates, knew something special was about to happen.
Quincey rose from her wheelchair, and with a little help from her mom and her friend and fellow graduate Rikki Sours, Quincey Snyder had the honor of walking with the Class of 2010.
Yes, she walked. Up the stairs, about 16 feet of the stage, stopping to grab her diploma, give a few hugs, shake some hands, and then it was down the other stairs where her dad Shane was waiting with helping hands and a gigantic smile.
Quincey Snyder walked with her class.
“It was awesome,” Quincey says. “I was just excited the whole time.”
Mom might have been even more excited.
“Compared to where we were a year ago, you believe what the future holds but to see it come to fruition and to see it in front of your eyes was amazing,” Michele says.
She walked along side Quincey carrying her hand crutches, but this was one time that Quincey was going to let feet speak for the feat.
On her feet for this special day, may have been the most symbolic aspect of her walk.
Her basketball shoes — black and white Jordans helped her soar on this day.
She says she started breaking them in back in February.
As Quincey reached the end of the stairs, there was her dad.
“I think he was more nervous than I was,” she says. “I was more concerned about not falling down and making a fool of myself.”
But this was no small feat. Yes, she walked across the stage without hand crutches, but she graduated with her class. And that was a huge step.
After the accident, Quincey lost half her junior year. Then came the continuous daily physical therapy sessions. Painful, physically and mentally draining work. Then came schoolwork and playing catch-up.
Small steps? No, huge steps.
Late in the semester, Quincey realized that she was going to make it. She would be a member of the Class of 2010.
“About two weeks before graduation it started to set in. There was a lot of relief,” Quincey says.
She just started walking with arm crutches on Jan. 19 — another small step. That's when Quincey started to think that she might be able to walk across that stage.
Michele says that graduation and walking with her classmates was just one of those large goals that took countless small steps to accomplish.
“Graduation was a motivation,” Michele says, “and it was one of many, many goals that we have.”
Like all graduates, the inevitable what's next? question beckons.
College, but not for a while. Still more small steps before that large goal hits the horizon.
Quincey's determination isn't about to take a vacation now.
“I'm going to work even harder now that school is over,” she says about physical therapy.
“We just take it one day at a time,” Michele says. “We learned early on, you set your goals and know it may be a long time to accomplish them.”
Graduation and walking with her class — mission accomplished.
Quincey said the entire day was unbelievable. Another special memory in a long agonizing journey.
Mom plans to put the diploma next to all of Quincey's basketball photos, awards and other milestones.
Just one more accomplishment that dims the memory of December 30, 2008 a little more.
On May 23, 2010, Quincey Snyder, with her family and friends cheering her on, and her black and white Jordans on her feet, walked the walk that didn't seem possible just a few short months ago.
Huge steps in a mammoth journey.
And three root beer floats to celebrate an amazing day.
And of course, big days need special shoes.
It was graduation day for the 18-year-old Rifle senior.
Graduation is special for everyone who earns a diploma. It's one of those lifetime memories.
Of course, memories like this deserve a party. And naturally, what could be better than celebrating with a root beer float.
“Three of them,” Quincey says with a laugh.
Sunday's graduation was another milestone for Quincey.
As her mom Michele says, “Large goals and small steps.”
Actually, Sunday was a huge step for Quincey.
This milestone was so much more than just picking up a diploma.
By now, most are familiar with this story of courage, faith, resolve and determination. On Dec. 30, 2008, while on a family vacation, Quincey suffered a spinal cord injury while diving into the Caribbean Sea. She was paralyzed.
On Sunday afternoon, Quincey's comeback took another step.
As the name was announced — “Quincey Snyder,” — the large crowd and 125 other Rifle High School graduates, knew something special was about to happen.
Quincey rose from her wheelchair, and with a little help from her mom and her friend and fellow graduate Rikki Sours, Quincey Snyder had the honor of walking with the Class of 2010.
Yes, she walked. Up the stairs, about 16 feet of the stage, stopping to grab her diploma, give a few hugs, shake some hands, and then it was down the other stairs where her dad Shane was waiting with helping hands and a gigantic smile.
Quincey Snyder walked with her class.
“It was awesome,” Quincey says. “I was just excited the whole time.”
Mom might have been even more excited.
“Compared to where we were a year ago, you believe what the future holds but to see it come to fruition and to see it in front of your eyes was amazing,” Michele says.
She walked along side Quincey carrying her hand crutches, but this was one time that Quincey was going to let feet speak for the feat.
On her feet for this special day, may have been the most symbolic aspect of her walk.
Her basketball shoes — black and white Jordans helped her soar on this day.
She says she started breaking them in back in February.
As Quincey reached the end of the stairs, there was her dad.
“I think he was more nervous than I was,” she says. “I was more concerned about not falling down and making a fool of myself.”
But this was no small feat. Yes, she walked across the stage without hand crutches, but she graduated with her class. And that was a huge step.
After the accident, Quincey lost half her junior year. Then came the continuous daily physical therapy sessions. Painful, physically and mentally draining work. Then came schoolwork and playing catch-up.
Small steps? No, huge steps.
Late in the semester, Quincey realized that she was going to make it. She would be a member of the Class of 2010.
“About two weeks before graduation it started to set in. There was a lot of relief,” Quincey says.
She just started walking with arm crutches on Jan. 19 — another small step. That's when Quincey started to think that she might be able to walk across that stage.
Michele says that graduation and walking with her classmates was just one of those large goals that took countless small steps to accomplish.
“Graduation was a motivation,” Michele says, “and it was one of many, many goals that we have.”
Like all graduates, the inevitable what's next? question beckons.
College, but not for a while. Still more small steps before that large goal hits the horizon.
Quincey's determination isn't about to take a vacation now.
“I'm going to work even harder now that school is over,” she says about physical therapy.
“We just take it one day at a time,” Michele says. “We learned early on, you set your goals and know it may be a long time to accomplish them.”
Graduation and walking with her class — mission accomplished.
Quincey said the entire day was unbelievable. Another special memory in a long agonizing journey.
Mom plans to put the diploma next to all of Quincey's basketball photos, awards and other milestones.
Just one more accomplishment that dims the memory of December 30, 2008 a little more.
On May 23, 2010, Quincey Snyder, with her family and friends cheering her on, and her black and white Jordans on her feet, walked the walk that didn't seem possible just a few short months ago.
Huge steps in a mammoth journey.
And three root beer floats to celebrate an amazing day.
