The halls of Ruben A. Cirillo High School erupted with cheers and applause on the morning of Monday, November 15, 2021 as Gananda senior, Austin Sierra, rolled through the front doors in his wheelchair after an absence of nearly two months.

"The first and only time I have seen Austin speechless was when he returned to school and was able to enter the building on his own with his wheelchair to the cheers and support from our whole school community,” states Mary Crelley, Ruben A. Cirillo High School Counselor. "For Austin, I hope that it showed him that the love and support that he so freely offers others was coming back around to him.”

Sierra suffered multiple serious injuries from a motorcycle accident on the evening of Wednesday, September 22, 2021 where he was Mercy Flighted to Strong Memorial Hospital. He suffered multiple fractures in his back, had a portion of his lower left leg amputated, and sustained injuries to his lungs and ribs.

"When we first heard about Austin's accident, there was a general feeling of sorrow and loss in the high school.

Austin is such a presence here in the hallways and returning to school that next day and not hearing his voice echoing through the halls was such a stark reminder of his role in our community,” Crelley says.

Gananda students and staff came together several times over Sierra's pe riod of recovery to show support. From a GoFundMe that his friends created for medical expenses, to organizing and sending cards from the elementary and middle school classrooms, to the many teachers and staff connecting with him in the hospital, the Gananda school community wanted to make sure he knew they were right there with him.

Staff were in touch with Sierra's family throughout the recovery process and received regular progress updates. He had a long road ahead, but he was progressing well.

“When we heard that he was eating on his own and talking, that's when we really started to have hope; not only was Austin going to make it, but he was going to return to us as the caring, outgoing and passionate Austin that we had all come to know and love,” explains Crelley.

As Sierra entered the school build- ing for the first time since that unfortunate night in September, you could see a quote on the back of his sweatshirt. It said, "Anything is Possible." Sierra's grit and determination have proven just that.