Jack Kelley's Wordpress

What happens when you have a life changing even that completely changes your life? For Alex Watters, he makes the most of it. Alex is a career development specialist here at Morningside and I was able to sit in on an interview with him that changed the way everyone should look at life.

Alex grew up in Okaboji, Iowa, where he loved to fish, wakeboard, swim, golf, and hangout with his friends and family. He was an all state golfer in high school and went to Morningside on a golf scholarship where he dreamed of being a professional golf coach some day. One weekend he decided to go home to Okaboji and spend the weekend with family when his life would be changed forever. It was a windy night and his hat flew off of his head into the water. He decided to dive in for it, but the water was only 18 inches deep. Alex broke his C6 and C5 vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the upper chest down.

That doesn’t stop Alex from living his life to his best. “You truly determine your destiny and what you’re going to do and what you’re going to achieve. It’s all how hungry you are, how much you want to achieve. We all have 24 hours in a day.” said Watters. Alex loves inspiring people, and lives by the phrase, “It could be worse.” He continues to live out his life by being a career development specialist, being on the Sioux City city council, and helping students achieve that job they have always dreamed of.

Alex knows that with his disability there are some things he cannot do, but he still lives out a normal life. Alex has a girlfriend who he loves to hangout with and make happy. Another hobby of Alex’s is trying different craft beers, and going to new restaurants to try new food. Although he can’t golf anymore, he still enjoys following friends on the golf course and watching them play. Alex also has a book that is half written that he would someday like to finish and publish. Alex Watters is and inspiration to thousands of people, and shows us how to live life to the fullest when the odds may be against you.