Young Woman’s Unexpected Graduation Moment Leaves Crowd Cheering

One young woman’s unexpected graduation moment leaves the crowd cheering. She displayed resilience and strength of character as she made her way to receive her diploma. Watch the short and powerful clip to see what she did that will likely have you wiping away a tear or two from your eyes.

Life is a long series of unexpected events. Some will be good, happy occasions and reasons to celebrate, where you’ll experience life’s mountaintop. However, unfortunately, with other instances, you’ll experience the valleys, the lowest of lows. Those situations will be marked by pain, agony and heartbreak.

While we often cannot control or predict what will happen, we have power over our response and reaction. When life becomes unbearable and overwhelming, we can quit and declare ourselves defeated or soldier on, doing what we can to make the best of the situation. In a clip posted on YouTube, a recent George Mason graduate, Samantha Lewis, refused to quit, continuing when she encountered devastating, overwhelming circumstances.

She came down with a rare neurological condition, causing her to lose feeling in both legs, basically leaving her paralyzed. However, although it would have been much easier, Samantha refused to give up. She continued with her studies, taking six classes simultaneously while she went through months of physical therapy. The video explains that she had to learn to walk again.

“I’m going to try my best because I can’t give up without trying first,” Samantha said.

Eventually, graduation day arrived, and Samantha appeared on stage in a wheelchair. Still, she did something no one saw coming: She stood up and walked across the stage to receive her diploma, and as she did that, the noise level was deafening.

“What inspires people who you become despite what you’ve been through,” Samantha said.

James 1:12 “There is a blessing on the man who undergoes testing; because, if he has God’s approval, he will be given the crown of life, which the Lord has said he will give to those who have love for him.”