One Indian Creek senior took one of her worst experiences and turned it into an opportunity to evolve.
More than two years have passed since Kaylin Todor was injured playing basketball, tearing her left ACL in a home game against Bedford North Lawrence. She’s using the months of discomfort and uncertainty that ensued to script the salutatorian speech she’ll read at commencement.
“It’s about overcoming obstacles. In high school, everyone is on a roller coaster,” Todor said. “The high points of the roller coaster are when you’re feeling great and life is wonderful, but it’s the low points that can teach you the things that you need to learn and make you into the person you want to be.”
Following surgery, Todor missed approximately two and a half weeks of school. Once back, the walks to classrooms took longer because she was on crutches. Todor found it difficult to stay up to date in all her classes, but she eventually caught up with encouragement from teachers.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
One of them was longtime Indian Creek chemistry teacher Carol Piety, who admired Todor’s willingness to push herself no matter the circumstance.
“Kaylin always brings her ‘A’ game into the classroom and in all areas,” said Piety, who is wrapping up her 39th year at Indian Creek. “She’s always thinking ahead, planning and pushing all the time. Kaylin is from a supportive family, and I think she’s been taught to give of herself.”
Todor, who carries a grade-point average a shade under 4.6, will attend Butler University and major in chemistry.
“We have an amazing chemistry teacher at our high school. She really inspired me and pushed me to do my best,” Todor said of Piety. “I love to be able to do all sorts of crazy experiments and learning how everything works, and how our bodies work, especially since I want to go pre-med.
“Learning how the different chemicals interact in our bodies to do the things we take for granted.”
Todor doesn’t want to experience the pain and emotions of two years ago every again. At the same time, that helped make her the person she is today.
“It really taught me how to persevere and how to push myself because there were days I didn’t want to get out of bed and do my physical therapy. It wasn’t fun,” Todor said. “But it definitely made me a stronger person overall.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”The Todor file ” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Kaylin Todor
Age: 18
Parents: James and Karyn
Residence: Trafalgar
College plans: Studying chemistry at Butler
Career goals: Going to medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon specializing in female athletes
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Indian Creek High School commencement
Where: Main gymnasium
When: June 1, 10 a.m.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
