IHS Students Climb Every Mountain with Famed Mountaineer Gary Guller

Embracing diversity, difficult paths and niceness will help you “attain the summit of success” famed mountaineer Gary Guller told Immaculate High School students at a riveting school-sponsored Awareness Program presentation recently.

Through video accounts and testimony of his accomplishments, students were captivated as Mr. Guller relayed his adventures, including traumatic setbacks and surprise successes.

Guller always envisioned himself climbing to the top of the world.  To begin his dream, he started trekking and mountain climbing with friends. On one of his early mountain climbs, he and a friend had a climb accident.  Guller lost his arm and his friend. His experience empowered him to share with others how not to quit. He became the leader of the largest ever cross-disability group to reach Mt. Everest Base Camp at 17,500 feet. After setting this record, he went on in 2003 to become the first disabled climber reach the summit.

“The experience to be on the top of the world was a dream of mine since I was in high school," said Guller. He shared how teamwork and caring for others can make “anything you want to achieve in life possible."

After losing his arm, Guller wasn’t sure that he would realize his dream of summiting Mt. Everest. But then he met some wonderful people who gave him another idea: taking a group of people with various disabilities to climb the mountain and reach its base camp. “The excursion to Mt. Everest actually began when I gave a presentation to an audience who, unbeknownst to me, were people from all walks of life who had both physical and cognitive challenges. It was the enthusiasm and heart of one of them who made it possible to consider having them be a base camp for the excursion," he said.

"While on the trip, their compassion and passion was evident. They taught me that if we believe, are supportive and kind to each other, we can overcome almost any of life's challenges." One of the best advice he received came from a local native on how to survive the challenges of the trip. The man told him that "life is very easy and comes together when you put in some hard work. Also, you must concentrate on being nice to each other."

Guller firmly believes that being non-judgemental, accepting diversity and the pronounced disabilities of other individuals is important to succeeding. The simple act of being nice is key. "We need to look first at another's heart before judging; whenever you think about it, hopefully every day, try and make someone else's life a little better. As a result, everything you can possibly imagine will come true," Mr. Guller shared with the students.

Immaculate High School’s Awareness Program brings high-quality and top-of-the-field professional speakers face to face with students to help provide the tools youth need to navigate today’s world and find the confidence they need to achieve high goals. Past programs have honestly displayed the consequences of drug use and drunk driving, thanks to national and local speakers including Assistant US Attorney Robert Spector (District of CT), Chris Sandy of Choices Matter, the CT Community Addictions & Recovery Education & Support (C.A.R.E.S.) Program and Parents Matter Program by the Mid-Western CT Council on Alcoholism.

Mr. Guller has been featured in major media such as ABC World News Tonight, CNN, the BBC, the New York Times and the LA Times. Mr. Guller has presented to IBM, American Express, HP, Goldman Sachs, Raytheon and Microsoft. He is also an author and documentary filmmaker. Mr. Guller “uses his extraordinary experiences to share with his audiences the importance of equality, determination, team-work and integrity and how these traits lead to personal and professional success,” according to his website.

Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School allows students to focus on academic excellence, spiritual development, service to others and personal goals. Located in Danbury, CT, Immaculate High School is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s parochial school system. For more information, go to www.immaculatehs.org.

 

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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