ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Hundreds of graduates received their diplomas from Flagler College but one St. Augustine woman who’s also a paraplegic showed any obstacle can be overcome.
Angel Baer is a brand new graduate of Flagler College with a degree in Public Administration.
But she accomplished that after a devastating injury.
“Well, I was taking down Christmas lights out of the tree above my pergola, which is outside by my deck, and I, unfortunately, took a tumble and I broke my back and had to have surgery from my T-11 to down to my L-2, so it was pretty intense, and unfortunately, it’s left me paralyzed. So, I am now a paraplegic,” Baer said.
Doctors have told Baer her condition is irreversible, but she doesn’t agree with that diagnosis.
“Yeah, that’s what science says. That’s not what I believe, but I’m believed to be the unique specimen that’s gonna change that statistic,” Baer said and laughed.
She’s also not slowing down. Baer is working to get other online degrees through Louisiana State University.
Despite setbacks that her physical health has put in front of her, she’s not letting them stop her.
“Determination and drive and stubbornness,” Baer said. “I set my sights on dreams, and I’ve had so many of my dreams squashed now because of this accident. I mean, it’s obvious it’s a game changer. My life is totally turned upside down and all of my dreams that I had ever had aspired to have gone away. And now I have to find new dreams. And the one dream that I’ve always had since I was a little girl was to become a librarian and life courses changed how I got there, which is why I’m at this age doing it, but you know what? I never gave up on that dream and I’m going for it. And no matter what it takes, I’m going to get it.”