Rohan Murphy Inspires
One day a Huntington High School journalism class reviewed some material about Rohan Murphy, a double leg amputee who went on to be a champion high school wrestler and member of the Penn State mat team. A light went off in the head of senior Emilie Pugliese as she sat in the room that day.
"I knew that if I reached out to Rohan he could be a great inspiration for so many at our high school," the teenager said. So Ms. Pugliese, who is headed to High Point University in North Carolina on a lacrosse scholarship, contacted the athlete turned motivational speaker and the two "instantly we became friends," she said. "I told him how inspired I was about the article that I read in journalism. It was so unreal and touching and I felt that I had to connect with him. We talked about our athletics and goals. When I spoke to him, it was always such an uplifting conversation."
Ms. Pugliese suggested that the 27-year old come to Huntington and speak directly with students believing he could make a difference in their lives. The senior approached Principal Carmela Leonardi about inviting Mr. Murphy onto the campus and then went to speak with high school student government faculty advisors Fred Bisogno and Anthony Troffa about the possibility of that organization contributing funds to cover Mr. Murphy's speaking fee.
Teachers Michael Swendemann, Aimee Antorino and Gina Collica were contacted as faculty advisors for the Key Club and English honor society, both of which also pitched in. "They all helped me to make this possible and it truly was the best program," Ms. Pugliese said.
Mr. Murphy's appearance in the high school auditorium was dynamic. He was born with deformities in both legs and by the time he reached four years old, doctors decided that a double amputation was required. His powerful message about accepting your own and other's differences was well received by the large audience.
"He was told that he would never be able to take care of himself, and against all odds he proved them wrong," Ms. Pugliese said. "Rohan accepted his disability as a gift and it helped him take control of his life."
A Wonderful Assembly
"This was a wonderful assembly," Dr. Leonardi said. "The speaker captivated everyone's attention and you could hear the proverbial pin drop. The students commented on how much they admired his determination and how he was able to inspire them. The adults also expressed that they did not realize how much they had needed the 'morale' pick me up he provided."
As a freshman, Mr. Murphy joined the East Islip wrestling team and the sport helped him achieve in areas on and off the mat. He chose to attend Penn State University for academic reasons, but soon went to see the wrestling coach there who "told him that they could use him as a manager for the team," Ms. Pugliese said. "He said 'no coach I want to wrestle' and the coach said 'okay show me what you have on the mat.'
Mr. Murphy won a roster spot on the Nittany Lions' team and went on to earn three varsity letters. He has even competed internationally, appeared in the pages of Sports Illustrated, on ABC's 20/20 and was featured in a Nike "No Excuses" commercial to help motivate and inspire others.
Today, Mr. Murphy is a much sought after motivational speaker, with a gift for inspiring others. Those who have heard him speak often walk away with the confidence and determination to master whatever challenges they are facing.
"Rohan's life story is a gripping tale of adversity, dedication and living life with a purpose," Ms. Pugliese said. The school's student body attended the assembly program and the teenagers were gripped for an hour.
Nothing is Impossible
Mr. Murphy addressed the case of students who feel powerless and even hopeless at times. He stressed that the impossible is really not any such thing and that anything is possible. He pointed out how growing up with an enormously challenging physical disability placed many obstacles in his path and how his dreams seemed unattainable. Yet he persevered until one-by-one those seemingly insurmountable barriers fell by the wayside.
"Rohan was so energetic and encouraged the students to get involved in extracurricular activities and to take control of their life," Ms. Pugliese said. "In my eyes, he is a hero and to many others in the school he is an inspiration. So many students reached out to Rohan after the assembly and told him how they felt no hope in their future until they met him and heard his story. I feel like so many others were touched by his gift to strive and live life to the fullest."
"I had occasion to talk to him after his presentation as well and was impressed at the amount of energy and positive outlook he is charged with," Dr. Leonardi said. "He was able to give something personal to everyone in that audience."
If it is possible to sum up Mr. Murphy's message in just a few words, it would be, to use his own words: "Keep on believing; Hope runs deep."