WNC second-year student Steven Jacobo spoke to students on Aug. 9 about his new life after a life-changing snowboarding accident.

Even though a freak winter accident confined him to a wheelchair, Steven Jacobo still has big dreams and a passion for life.
Fifty students, including CREST and a Communication 101 class, and staff members were on hand to listen to the Western Nevada College student and Paralympic bobsledding hopeful speak in Joe Dini Library earlier this month.
Jacobo, who was paralyzed in a snowboarding accident in 2013 at Sierra at Tahoe Resort, told his life story and how he has moved forward with his disability.
He is a second-year WNC student pursuing his Association of Science degree with the goal of pursuing an engineer degree at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Jacobo talked about his upbringing in Los Angeles, the disappointment of not having the guidance to go to college after high school, how his accident happened, how he eventually came to terms with his disability after his surgeon told him hed walk again, the fun and fulfillment of making videos to help others with similar disabilities, how he met his wife, being a father, his Paralympic dream and why he chose to come to WNC.
What brought me here was that I am really into engineering and with this space race going on, I thought it would be really interesting to get into aerospace engineering, Jacobo said. I always liked to take things apart and put them back together and improve on things.
Jacobos talk also included a question-and-answer session. Jacobo told the students not to restrict their questioning since hes heard it all.
Following Jacobos talk, attending students learned about resources in ACCEL (adult education) from Angela Holt, the Latino Leadership Academy from Denise Stout and the Indigenous Student Association and PAT programs from Sylvia Rondeaux.
To learn more about Jacobos dreams and educational pursuits, go to wnc.edu/paralympic-bobsledding-hopeful-turns-to-wnc-to-fulfill-next-dream/