Lonnie Riedel wanted to play football. That was his dream until he became paralyzed from the chest down during a drive-by shooting in 2009. It was the spring of his freshman year of college. He was 19-years-old.

Three years and three surgeries later, Riedel has returned to college and is completely independent. He doesn’t know if he will walk again, but has learned not to dwell on what he cannot control.

“Some people make the disability a part of them, while some people identify themselves as a disability. The wheelchair is part of my mobility but it does not define who I am,” Riedel said. “Whatever happens is meant to happen. I am no more special than anybody else.”

Riedel decided to attend Wichita State to major in sports management and hopes to become a football coach.

His daily routine is equal to that of an average college student. He goes to school from 9:30 a.m. to noon and is trying to find a job.

But it took Riedel months to become comfortable with his new life and to learn how to share what he was feeling with his family and friends.

“One of the biggest things is to talk. You have to be willing to talk to people. I could not tell you what happened from March to July of 2009,” Riedel said. “It was so depressing and dark. I didn’t want to adapt to my new life. I hated my wheelchair.”

Riedel had to learn over again how to bathe, dress and perform daily tasks. With his most recent surgery, he lost motor and strength in part of his right hand and has had problems with nerves in his neck. Tasks like getting ready for school that used to take him five minutes, now take him up to 30 minutes.

“I think how people gage you in a lot of ways is how you handle yourself,” Riedel said.

Riedel learned how to endure and succeed from his father who recently passed away.

“My father inspired me,” Riedel said. “He did the best with what he could and he was constantly there when I needed him.”

His disability has made him aware of what is really important in life.

“Some people worry about some of the most stupid stuff in the world and it just really isn’t that important,” Riedel said.

Everything happens for a reason. Riedel chose to attend a party hosted by one of his neighbors; he chose to run home when he heard there was a fight, and he believes that being in a wheelchair is no coincidence.

Riedel lost a lot of friends, his dreams were shattered, and he saw no reason to continue living. But he didn’t give up. He got to know himself again, found new dreams, and has accepted his disability as something that has given him the strength to persevere through anything life throws at him.

“Keep your head up,” Riedel said. “It’s true even though it’s cliché.”