Although I speak on how athletes can connect college scholarships, schools often call and ask to have a motivational message delivered. This past week I had the opportunity to deliver the keynote at the annual NorthWood High School Academic Teams banquet. It was such an inspiring evening to be around such outstanding young people and supportive parents and educators.

After my keynote, I was sitting there watching the teams be honored. When they called for the Spell Team, one of their members came forward tapping a walking cane. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Her name is Rochelle “Chelli” Schmitt, and she is a longtime Spelling champion and member of the NorthWood High Spell Bowl. Rochelle has been blind since birth, yet has been one of the top spellers in the state for years. She is also on the Fine Arts team. She relies on teammates to describe paintings as they come up on screens in competitions.

Seeing young people like her kindles the fire within me to be more determined. When I see her accomplishing such things in her life, I get inspired.

Thank you, Rochelle, for being such an inspiration!

- Charlie Adams