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GLENVIEW, Ill. — Tommy Carroll has been skating since he was 10. He's been blind since he was 2.
The young college student explained what drives him in a video posted to Vimeo earlier this month. He said the feeling he gets when he accomplishes new things is enough to keep him going through the falls he experiences.
Carroll was born with retina cancer that was not caught in time to prevent significant damage to his eyesight. He was fully blind by the time he was 2 years old.
He relies on sound while he skateboards, using the sound of his wheels on the concrete to get his sense of direction and check if there's anything in his way. For him, protective gear is of utmost importance.
"Protective gear is the difference between being absolutely terrified of skateboarding and being completely confident," he said. "I feel like I can push myself to the next level when I'm protected; I can try big tricks and not worry about getting hurt."
In the short video, Carroll shared what what he thinks everyone should know: that everything happens for a reason.
"There is always a way to overcome an obstacle if you really want it enough," he said.
