13David is working on his Masters of Science degree in Counseling, option in Higher Education. As a youngster he played football, soccer, basketball and baseball and wrestled all four years at St. John Bosco High School. Shortly after graduation David’s life was changed when he was in an auto accident that crushed his spinal cord leaving him paralyzed at the T8 level. After the initial depression that comes with such a life altering experience, David’s outlook on life fundamentally changed and instead of retreating from life he decided to become more ambitious. He got into wheelchair sports and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois where he received a B.A. in Sociology. He played wheelchair basketball in the US and overseas, has coached wounded veterans and co-founded I Aspire Adapted Sports and Recreation. David has worked as a Community College Disability Career Advisor and hopes that his degree will help him expand his mentoring and counseling abilities.