SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— March 11th 2011 is a day that changed the course of Andre Barbieri’s life.
“I had a snowboard accident 13 years ago. I— I hit a fence and broke my femur, and the leg had to go,” said the Paralympic snowboarder.
The tragic accident turned into an opportunity— to compete in the Paralympics.
And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The worst day of Barbieri’s life became the best day of his life— multiple times.
“ As it happens, I ended up competing on the day of my accident, and my second daughter was also born on the day of my accident,” said Barbieri.
Now, Barbieri uses his story to inspire people around the country.
At Santa Barbara Middle School it was an opportunity for kids to lean into their curiosity and gain some perspective.
“ It’s like something for him as big as losing his leg and still competing as something as small as just like not trying to finish my homework because it’s, like, too difficult. Like, if he could do that, that like big of an extent, I feel like I could do smaller things, smaller steps,” said Santa Barbara Middle School 8th grader Ximena Rodriguez.