What an Inspirational Student Can Teach Us About Success

By Ben Glass, Esquire

Benjamin W. Glass and Associates

. https://www.benglasslaw.com/

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What an Inspirational Student Can Teach Us About Success

In May, Fairfax High School celebrated Drew Bonner Day in honor of one of its most beloved students. If you've already seen the video of Drew's historic at bat for FHS making the rounds on the Internet, then you know this kid is something special. I had the privilege of sitting down with this remarkable young man to talk about his success, his advice for current high school students, and what the future has in store for him.

Drew gets more done in one week than most students do in a month. In addition to taking four AP classes and maintaining a 4.2 GPA, Drew manages the baseball and basketball teams at Fairfax High School, having lettered four times for his contributions. He's an Eagle Scout (the most decorated in his troop), a member of the Homecoming court, and a member of both the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America. Drew is the recipient of this year's Andrew Mullen Courageous Achievement Award, as well as the Allstate Foundation Virginia High School League Achievement Award, one of the highest individual honors a student can receive for work in both academics and athletics.

“I think an important thing to really have is time management skills. When you have some free time, get at the top of your game and work ahead,” Drew says. His busy schedule leaves little time for Facebook or video games, which seem like the two most popular pastimes for 21st century teenagers. “Sports are an extracurricular activity. It really makes you stay focused because you don't have a lot of extra time, so you're not going to waste that time. Having something there helps keep you focused.”

Not bad for a student who hasn't walked under his own power since he was 14. Drew suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a degenerative muscular disease that affects one out of every 3,500 boys. By the age of 12, most patients are wheelchair dependent. There is no known cure for DMD.

If this makes you stop and think, it should. Not because Drew has been given a hard life, but because Drew has rejected bitterness and has chosen to respond with optimism and kindness. Drew has been an inspiration to kids across the nation afflicted with DMD, having said in a 2009 news interview with Maureen McFadden, “How's life any fun if you're just going be a downer? Why not just live it and be happy?”

This fall, Drew will be attending the University of Virginia on an academic scholarship to study computer science, and this summer he'll be managing the travel baseball team. The next time you run into an obstacle in your own life that seems insurmountable, take a moment to think about the hand that Drew Bonner was dealt. Not everything is under your control, but what you can control is how you react. Don't say, “I can't do that.” Rather, follow Drew's example, and ask yourself, “What can't I do?”