Fletcher Cleaves had everything going for him, from going to college to starting in his first football game, but that all came to an end because of a distracted driver. 

Despite the challenges that he faced, he told Proctor students, “You are the author of your own story, “ as he told his story.

He told his inspiring story from his wheelchair on Tuesday, January 30th. He was paralyzed from the chest down, and many things that were once easy for him became unmanageable. Yet, he still fought hard for any improvement he could. “All these things I've been told all my life gave me ambition to succeed," Fletcher said, noting that his family always encouraged him to fight for his goals. 

Fletcher was a small child, and he was often judged when he sought to pursue his dreams of playing football. Not many people believed in him, yet that led him to try even harder. Every time he would try out for a new team, whether it was JV or Varsity, he was always regarded with an uninspiring response. He was told that he needed to work harder, become fitter, and maybe he would be better. 

So that's what he did. He would work out many times a week and prove to everyone that he was just as good as them, even if he was slimmer than they were. He knew the only way he would be able to go further with his education was if he got a football scholarship. Many scouts would come and talk to him and many would take one look and offer him partial scholarships. He knew that he needed a full scholarship, so that just helped him work harder until one day, he got a letter in the mail. He got a full-ride scholarship to Memphis University. 

Once college came around, he worked hard every day in hopes of making the traveling team. He ended up being one of the two freshmen to make the predominantly senior traveling team. One week before he was to be the starting kicker for the first game, he got in a car accident. A distracted driver drove him and his friend off the road. Although he could no longer function as he did before, that same motivation to prove everyone wrong still flowed through him.

He fought every step of his journey and continues to fight to this day. "The person who thinks they can and the one who thinks they can't are both right. Which will you be?" Fletcher asked. 

Students were enthralled watching this assembly. After the assembly, everyone had the opportunity to try different types of impaired goggles to understand the dangers of impaired driving in addition to distracted driving. 

Cleaves works with an organization called Choices Matter. His presentation proved that and inspired students to make good ones.