Leo
05-30-2003, 03:16 PM
Class act: Jordan grad refused to let injury keep him sidelined
BY MICHAEL PETROCELLI : The Herald-Sun
mpetrocelli@heraldsun.com
May 29, 2003 : 10:44 pm ET
DURHAM -- Each of the 370 seniors who crossed the stage at Jordan High School's graduation ceremony Thursday night got cheers and applause, but only Justin Bailey received a standing ovation from his entire class.
Bailey remained seated, as he has since February 2002 when a spinal cord injury he sustained while practicing a back flip on a trampoline took away use of his legs. After keeping up with his schoolwork while in the hospital, he was determined to make it back to Jordan's Garrett Road campus this past fall and join his peers in their commencement exercise. "I just had to work hard," he said as dozens of friends and family members hugged him and posed next to his wheelchair for pictures.
His father, Charles, praised Justin's attitude, saying that it was only through sheer will that he made it to the stage at Cameron Indoor Stadium. "He could have stayed at home and been home-schooled, but he wanted to go back to Jordan," his father said. "He wanted to graduate with his class."
With only limited use of his hands, but with the help of an assistant to take notes, Justin managed to bring his grade-point average up during his senior year, his father said, and he did well enough to earn admission to North Carolina A&T. The injury kept him from the many activities he loved including football, baseball, track and the band, giving him more time to devote to academics, Charles Bailey said.
Justin Bailey was just one of a class that Principal Rodney Nelson hailed for its achievements and perseverance.
"You're a class of winners, and you certainly leave a legacy for those who will follow you," he said.
BY MICHAEL PETROCELLI : The Herald-Sun
mpetrocelli@heraldsun.com
May 29, 2003 : 10:44 pm ET
DURHAM -- Each of the 370 seniors who crossed the stage at Jordan High School's graduation ceremony Thursday night got cheers and applause, but only Justin Bailey received a standing ovation from his entire class.
Bailey remained seated, as he has since February 2002 when a spinal cord injury he sustained while practicing a back flip on a trampoline took away use of his legs. After keeping up with his schoolwork while in the hospital, he was determined to make it back to Jordan's Garrett Road campus this past fall and join his peers in their commencement exercise. "I just had to work hard," he said as dozens of friends and family members hugged him and posed next to his wheelchair for pictures.
His father, Charles, praised Justin's attitude, saying that it was only through sheer will that he made it to the stage at Cameron Indoor Stadium. "He could have stayed at home and been home-schooled, but he wanted to go back to Jordan," his father said. "He wanted to graduate with his class."
With only limited use of his hands, but with the help of an assistant to take notes, Justin managed to bring his grade-point average up during his senior year, his father said, and he did well enough to earn admission to North Carolina A&T. The injury kept him from the many activities he loved including football, baseball, track and the band, giving him more time to devote to academics, Charles Bailey said.
Justin Bailey was just one of a class that Principal Rodney Nelson hailed for its achievements and perseverance.
"You're a class of winners, and you certainly leave a legacy for those who will follow you," he said.