By Jay Lee

As high school students of all ages can attest, the beginning of freshman year can be quite the overwhelming experience. As neophytes take on a new chapter in their lives, they are thrown into a realm much larger than anything they have ever experienced, both in size and population. Assuredly there still are freshmen who are grateful just to make it out of passing periods alive.

With that in mind, let me introduce you to a freshman that has taken the transition into high school exceptionally well. Meet Tommy Carroll, teen extraordinaire. Carroll has been unfazed thus far by the new high school experience, despite a rigorous academic schedule, various extracurricular activities, and participation in a sport. Ah yes, and there is one more detail. Tommy is blind.

No, this isn’t a misprint, and yes, you read correctly. Tommy Carroll cannot see.

Carroll was born with bilateral retinoblastoma, and the cancer took both his vision and his eyes by the age of two. Years later, Carroll has refused to let his blindness be an excuse not to experience anything and everything. Not one to stand by on the sidelines, Carroll has already dived into a long list of activities as a freshman.

“I guess I’ve always been the type of person to try new things. It’s just who I am, always wanting to be active and involved,” said Carroll.

Amazingly enough, one of the avenues in which Tommy has relieved his itch to be involved is in athletics. Carroll is a runner for the school’s cross country team, and he will finish up his season this Wednesday at a meet against Glenbrook North.

Carroll is able to run by holding onto an arm of another runner, as a teammate acts as a guide while still competing in the course himself.

“I really don’t see what the big deal is. I run just like everyone else. I just have a guide,” said the nonchalant Carroll.

Carroll’s cross country coach Christopher Hilvert feels much more strongly about the wonder of Carroll’s situation.

“I’ve coached him for about two to three months, and I’ll tell you, he is just incredible,” said Hilvert. “He does more with less than most guys on the team.”

Even with his impediment, Carroll remains no different from his teammates. “He wants to do more than anyone on the team, and he’ll get pissed when he does a workout that is any less than anyone,” said Hilvert emphatically. “Considering what he’s gone through and goes through to this day, he is tenacious.”

Even outside of cross country, Carroll has a wealth of athletic activities and interests. In the winter, Carroll plans on competing on the school’s wrestling team, a sport which Carroll has participated in over the last few years.

Outside of school, Carroll is just as athletically involved, enjoying skiing, karate, and triathalons.

Carroll has also been an enthusiatic skateboarder since starting at the age of nine. Carroll has mastered the sport, even gaining the sponsorship of Agent Skateboards, a local exhibition team. A regular at local skate parks, Carroll is able to skateboard by carefully mapping out the park and listening for sounds that signals a change in the ground.

Not only is it astonishing that Carroll is able to participate in athletics despite his handicap, it is merely impressive that he can fit in time for athletics into an already packed schedule. Outside of an academic schedule with the likes of Honors English, Honors World Civilization, and Honors Advanced Algebra, Carroll still manages time to speak at charity functions, work as an intern on radio shows on WGBK, and attend GBS football games.

On the rare occasions when Carroll finds free time in his schedule, he is no different than any other high school teenager. His hobbies include going on the computer, listening to the Cubs on the radio, and playing the drums.

“I definitely think that people should try everything they can possibly think of. Even if you don’t think you can be good at something, you should still give it a shot. You never know, you just might be good at it,” urged Carroll. “Even if you aren’t, it’s important to try and experience.”

Carroll’s story is indicative of the benefits of active involvement, but more than anything, it is one that spreads inspiration.

“He has such courage, dedication, and determination. If you were just to meet him and not know that he was blind, you would say the same thing,” commented Hilvert. “And then to be like this and be blind at the same time? That is pretty inspirational.”