"Passionate about life:" Olympic, Paralympic, marathon athlete with Spina bifida inspires others to dream big
BURLINGTON -- "I'm passionate about life." And it only takes a few seconds to recognize that with Jean Driscoll.
"Whether that's meeting with the President or winning an Olympic medal, or name the exciting event, I love sharing that enthusiasm with others," Driscoll said.
Jean Driscoll
Driscoll recently shared it with students from first grade through 12th in Catholic Central High School's gymnasium in Burlington.
"Whether you're five years old or you're 18 years old or you're 40 years old, we know what it is to succeed and to fail, to feel good and to feel bad. We have similar emotions. And so when I tell stories to students, I try to tap in to the emotions more than -- well, this has been my experience," Driscoll said.
Her experience that created an emotional connection with senior Lauren Reesman.
Lauren Reesman and Jean Driscoll
"I grew up with knowing about her my whole life pretty much," Reesman said.
Driscoll is an eight-time Boston Marathon champion as well as an Olympic and Paralympic gold medalist.
"One of the biggest joys I have is to share my medal with the kids and to see their eyes pop open when they are holding it and they realize how heavy it is. And that this is an Olympic medal," Driscoll said.
Reesman has known about Driscoll for her whole life, but only recently met her in person. Driscoll signed autographs on Reesman's racing helmet and bib.
Lauren Reesman and Jean Driscoll
"The fact that I just met a Paralympian, to me, is really amazing because I feel not many people in their lifetimes get to say, 'I've met this person. This person has made an impact in my life,'" Reesman said.
"Hopefully I connected with everybody to help them dream big and work hard. That's how I sign my autographs. You need to dream big, see your name in marquee lights. But then you've got to put the work in. It doesn't just come without working," Driscoll said.
Jean Driscoll
Reesman was only a toddler when Driscoll retired from competition 16 years ago, but they share a special connection. Both are track athletes who compete in wheelchairs because they have Spina bifida.
"I can use her as my inspiration to go out there and do good and tell people she's the reason that I do this," Reesman said.
With her athletic career over, Driscoll is inspiring in a different way through the ministry Joni and Friends.
Jean Driscoll
"Going to Ghana did have a profound effect on me," Driscoll said. There is a young lady named Ajarra who got polio when she was in fourth grade. And immediately she was taken out of school. It was seen that her life had no more value. She was cursed by God. And she was sent to the streets to beg. She was not invited to eat meals with her family. She was not invited to family meetings. And then she came to the U.S. and then she represented her country in Athens at the Paralympic games. It's the first time that Ghana ever sent athletes to the Paralympic games."
Jean Driscoll
"The fact that she's actually gone and helped people that she says made an impact in her life is really interesting because she grew up, even though she was disabled, like, having her say going there made an impact on her, even though she was disabled too, was pretty amazing to me to see that," Reesman said.
"This is way bigger than sport. This is about quality of life. This is about love. This is about educating people about who they are as valuable people in this world. We all have something to contribute. We all have talents that make the world a better place," Driscoll said.
Lauren Reesman