Olympic Pictures of Ryan Schroer

Photo by Darron Cummings, courtesy of The Republic
In this picture Ryan Schroer, a senior at Columbus North High School, carrying the torch.
A Story About Ryan Schroer, His Friends, and His Incredible Torch Run
By, Erika Harman
Columbus North High School
Who would have thought that a simple "Hello!" could have been the beginning of a wonderful friendship? This simple "Hello!" was all it took for Ryan Schroer and me to become great friends. I met Ryan in my biology class. He sat in the front of the class so that his motorized wheel chair wouldn't get in the way. I, however, believe that he wouldn't have gotten in the way no matter where he sat. From the first day of school, my simple "Hello!" and his cheerful reply were the keys to our friendship.
In our sophomore year, we were in the same English class--Mr. Weinheimer's English class. This year was great! Mr. Weinheimer was able to open Ryan up to even more people. The two became great friends. In fact, I'm not sure who taught the other person more. They even had a comedy act that was spontaneously put together every day. (This was because Ryan was the only person that actually laughed at Mr. Weinheimer's jokes.)
There was a time, however, in which Ryan was not able to come to school. He had surgery on his legs and hips. They had to keep him at home for rehabilitation. His parents had to turn his body every hour in order to prevent bed sores from occurring. His legs were very scarred and he was in a great deal of pain, but if you talked to him, he would never let on that he was in pain. He hid his pain from everyone.
A few weeks after our English class wrote letters to him, he was able to return to school for half of the day. Soon after this short period of time, he was able to come to school for the whole day. (What you may not understand is that this remarkable young man has cerebral palsy and has endured many an obstacle. Yet, he is able to go on living life to the fullest he is possibly able.) He knows the old saying "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." to the deepest and most personal extent.
In our junior year, we found that we didn't share a single class. This was not a problem, however, we just talked a little more in the hallway during passing periods. That year seemed to fly by. I must have blinked because I missed it! The highlight of the whole year (and maybe my life) was when Ryan asked me to hold the torch runner's flag that would mark the spot where Ryan would begin his Olympic torch run. When he asked me, I didn't know what to say. My first reaction was when I asked him why he didn't want someone from his family to hold it for him. He gently responded that he would be honored if I would accept this position for him. He said that the Olympic committee sent a letter saying that the person that holds the flag for him must be someone important to him. He said that I was important to him because I was the only true friend he had ever made that talked to HIM and not to his wheel chair. How could I refuse such a gracious compliment and request.
On June fifth, at 10:36 A.M., I left early from class in order to take the flag and reach Ryan's starting point early. As I walked down the sidewalk, my heart raced and my mind became a factory of questions. I kept wondering how everything was going to happen and how Ryan would respond to the huge crowd of thousands of people. On my way, I encountered Ryan's parents, grandparents, and brother. They had all come to support Ryan.
As we reached the starting point, the streets began to fill with students >from the surrounding schools and the area residents. Everyone had red, white, and blue on, and they each had an American flag. One school had even made two arches out of red, white, and blue balloons. These arches were big enough to cross the street and let semi-trucks pass through them. The patriotic atmosphere was set. The last ingredient was about to arrive. After the Coca-Cola trucks passed through, the van that carried the torch runners pulled into the drop-off point. All of the runners got out except Ryan. They lined up outside of the van and began to chant his name. Ryan! Ryan! Then all of the people that lined the streets joined in. Ryan! Ryan! It was all I could do to not cry.
The lift then lowered Ryan to the ground. There he was, in all his glory. People saw him for Ryan and not for his wheel chair. The other runners returned to the van and were off to their next drop-off point. The police then helped in directing the torch runner in the right direction. It all became slow motion at the sight of the arriving torch. I gave Ryan a hug and then stepped into my spot. The runner lit Ryan's torch and then Ryan began his journey. As he took off down the street, the chanting became louder and louder. The excitement filled the air and even I felt like I was on cloud number nine. I could not have been any prouder of Ryan! He deserved this moment in time-an historic moment-a moment that he was a part of and allowed me to be a part of, too.
As soon as Ryan began his torch run, his mother and I ran to the next relay point. It was amazing! Ryan was able to pass the torch to his favorite partner in comedy--Mr. Weinheimer. The excitement and happiness in Ryan's eyes could only express the feeling in the air. As Ryan approached Mr. Weinheimer, I could see the connection between the two. Mr. Weinheimer was another person that Ryan admired greatly and I'm sure the feeling was mutual between the two.
After Ryan passed the flame to Mr. Weinheimer, Mr. Weinheimer bent over and gave Ryan a hug. That moment will last in time forever. It symbolized the whole meaning of the flame. If anything, it showed the love, excitement, enthusiasm, brotherhood, and life of any man. The flame united every person as one. It was not the American Olympics that was held during the summer in Atlanta. It was the World Olympics. Ryan deserved his moment in time, and because of his family, he was able to enjoy it. The flame united us all and showed us all that love is really what makes this small world go around after all.