Paralympian Jessica Gallagher on tough choices

Imagine what it would it would be like if you went to the doctor to have your eyes tested when you were in Year 12 and were then told that you had a rare disease that meant your eyesight would continue to deteriorate and eventually you’d go blind. You loved sport and you were really good at sport but this was not news that was going to help you with that. Well this was exactly what happened to Jessica Gallagher…

At The National Young Leaders Day earlier this year, Jessica shared her experience of what was truly a life defining moment; the moment in which she faced what would have been one of her toughest hurdles yet! However, it is the choices she made in what would have seemed like the darkest of times that will inspire you…

Jessica is now both a Summer and Winter Paralympian and has competed for Australia in Long Jump, Javelin and a number of Alpine Skiing events. She is the first Australian female athlete to win a Winter Paralympics medal (bronze in the Slalom at Vancouver 2010 and bronze Giant Slalom at the Sochi 2014 Paralympics). Jessica also works with elite athletes as a qualified Osteopath and is the global ambassador for Vision 2020 Australia and ambassador for Disabled Wintersport Australia and Vision Australia.

Jessica's story of overcoming adversity is one we know will stay with students who attended The National Young Leaders Day for a long time to come. It brings to light the fact that when we find ourselves in dire situations, it is the choices we make that have the capacity to bring about an incredible amount of growth in character. It is the action we take and the decisions we make in these moments that can either hinder us or help us build resilience and achieve even more than we ever thought imaginable...

To find out more about Jessica Gallagher, head to her website.