What does it mean to persevere? The concept itself seems simple: keep fighting no matter the situation. Yet when facing hardship directly, it seems impossible to challenge oneself, to face the unknown with courage, and to use failure as momentum. No other person rejects giving up by example as well as Sydney Satchell, a paralympic athlete and amputee, who recently spoke to the Loomis Chaffee community. During the Convocation, Ms. Satchell interspersed her wisdom and advice with light jokes about her prosthetic.
After a major car accident, Ms. Satchell was forced to make a decision nobody should have to make: amputate her left leg. She spent several months recovering and relearning basic functions, such as walking.
History, Philosophy, & Religion faculty Ms. Simmons shared that Ms. Satchell’s words affected her personally, especially when it came to self-confidence and recognizing each person around her.
“Ms. Satchell’s story emphasized the passion she had for success, which ultimately fueled her motivation,” she said. “Even after all the setbacks, she was able to overcome the challenges and roadblocks that were placed in front of her.”
Ms. Simmons found Ms. Satchell’s story to be relatable, especially with regards to becoming a teacher. While their individual experiences might be different, the lessons they learned revolved around the same ideas of perseverance and seeking support.
“Ms. Satchell’s talk was a good reminder for us all to celebrate the differences among us and while also continuing to show up as our ‘best selves,’” Ms. Simmons said.
Throughout the convocation, Ms. Satchell continued to share stories of great vulnerability, sharing stories of “leading with the left foot.” She impressed many among the audience with her strong faith, her sense of humor, and her optimism.
While sharing her heart-wrenching journey, Ms. Satchell always maintained a sense of future strength.
“She had every reason to be negative or angry at her situation, but instead, she used her journey as a way to help motivate others to see the good in their own situation,” Ms. Caligiuri, Associate Director of Studies, said.
“Even in times of hardship, smiles and happiness remain the best ways to be relieved from unnecessary burdens,” Ms. Satchell said. “If we can appreciate even the night, we learn to appreciate the morning that much more.”
Having gone through the private school system during her youth, Ms. Satchell understands the competitive nature of an enclosed campus such as Loomis, and the comparison that comes as students strive for perfection. By sharing her own gifts of public speaking, she hopes others see their own potential and unlock their confidence.
“The moment that we enjoy the journey that is specifically ours, it takes all of those things that can sometimes really rob us of enjoying our life and takes them away,” she said.
William Chun ‘25 agreed with Ms. Satchell’s perspective.
“As we look toward and anticipate the future, we lose sight of our past,” Chun said. “We lose sight of what brought us to the present moment, and we begin to lose appreciation for the present and the past.”
Ms. Satchell left the LC community with a few parting words of inspiration.
“When you have a kinder, more loving, supportive, and ambitious community, everybody’s dreams come true,” she said.