Changed Lives

The Heart of an Olympian

Michelle appeared to have it all - a successful soccer career, awards, honors, friends, travel, money, husband... When her life began to fall apart, Michelle found a hidden strength. Find out how this Olympic Gold Medalist rose above her trials. Michelle graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1989. She has been a member of the United...

Featured Content

Success to Significance
Success to Significance

Several years ago I was challenged to think about what I had accomplished in my life, and Lord willing, what I would do over the remainder of the years I may be allowed to live.  My upbringing, education and career were centered very much on “accomplishing” (ie: being all that I could be, based on my God-given intelligence.) Truly blessed I...

No Comments »
Olympic Gold Isn’t For Everyone — But Excellence Is
Olympic Gold Isn't For Everyone -- But Excellence Is

Twenty two years ago, Kathy Kreiner stood on the Olympic podium listening to Canada's national anthem being played in her honour. The gold medal had just been placed around her neck, and as the Canadian flag rose against the backdrop of the mountains near Innsbruck, Austria, a swell of emotion and pride passed through the hearts of Canadians everywhere. A...

No Comments »
Strength to Forgive
Strength to Forgive

I am a New York City Police Officer. On July 12, 1986, I was on patrol in Central Park and stopped to question three teenagers. While I was questioning them, the oldest, a fifteen-year-old, took out a gun and shot me in the head and neck. Thanks to the quick action of my fellow police officers, I was rushed to a hospital. A few days later, once...

6 Comments »
Failure to Render Aid
Failure to Render Aid

In the wake of the horror and suffering of the recent terrorist attacks on Manhattan and the Pentagon, and recently the attacks on London, it has been heartwarming to see so many acts of heroism, beginning with the men and women who met a hellish death as they raced up the stairs of the World Trade Center to save lives. Thousands of volunteers, lavish...

1 Comment »
Winning Isn’t Enough
Winning Isn't Enough

My disappointment was intense as I watched my shot disappear into the bunker on the last hole, and with it, my chances of winning the 1994 Masters. But that was only the beginning of my disappointments. For the next two years I failed to win the U.S. Open, finishing in second place each time. I was struggling with self-doubt, and I dreaded to hear...

No Comments »
September 11th: The Call That Shook My World
September 11th: The Call That Shook My World

The hum in the office grew as people filtered in that morning. Soft chuckles over some incident the night before, muffled conversations and ringing phones filled the air. Suddenly, an urgent tone broke in. The first reports of a possible tragedy began circulating, and while some employees wrapped up phone calls, one or two turned on a radio, and...

No Comments »