Even under the best conditions, the life of a
college student can be challenging. For St.
Mary's student Sarah Proper, a senior studying
corporate finance, her medical issues have
added another level of difficulty.
With all of that, one might be pessimistic. Instead, Sarah
continues to push forward with her life and her studies at
St. Mary's. She considers herself a normal college student,
and sees the good in what she has been through. "I've
never given up hope; I feel that this experience gave me
an opportunity to become a stronger, more independent
person," she said.
It is unusual for a person so young to experience strokes,
but Sarah's youth and athleticism actually helped her
recover. Even now, she makes a point of doing cardiovascular
workouts to keep her heart healthy and plays a variety
of intramural sports, including football, volleyball, soccer
and softball.
Sarah is dedicated to using her own experiences to
educate people of all ages about stroke prevention.
It was Tim Derk, the former Spurs mascot who suffered
a stroke in 2004, that first encouraged Sarah to
get involved with the American Heart Association
and share her story. Since then, she's shared her
experiences with stroke victims and frequently gives
speeches at local American Heart Association
events about the importance of heart health and
stroke prevention.
An active and dedicated St. Mary's student, Sarah is involved
in numerous organizations, including the President's
Ambassadors, Beta Gamma Sigma, Dean-Students Advisory
Council, and Math Club. Once she graduates, Sarah hopes to
work in insurance and one day make a career of helping others
through the American Heart Association.
"There is a reason God gives us the obstacles He does,"
Sarah said. "I feel that as long as I've helped one person,
then everything I've gone through has not been in vain."
Reprinted with permission. Originally published in St. Mary's
University's Gold & Blue magazine Summer 2007 issue.
