Simon preparing to fly into the future

Carson Simon has experienced an event that not many high schoolers can relate to. In January 2018, Simon and his father were in a single engine airplane accident due to an engine failure at Longmont's Vance Brand Airport. Simon suffered multiple injuries, including a concussion and a hairline fracture in his back, but he made it out alive. The Niwot High School student was swimming for Silver Creek High School's combined boys squad four months later.

Simon is one of the more remarkable components of the class of 2020. "It shaped me. It makes me appreciate what I have going for me now," Simon said.

Unfortunately for Simon and many others in the class of 2020, his senior swimming season was cut short due to the coronavirus. Silver Creek had gotten just one meet in. Simon suspected it would be their last hoorah, and his team sang Bill Withers' Lean On Me following the meet.

Don't get too emotional though, because Simon has a bright future. He'll be attending Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colo. seeking his commercial aircraft pilot's license. When he's not mastering the air, he hopes to continue mastering the water during his free time in Rangely.

Resiliency will be a highly sought-after trait following the past few months, and you can look at Simon if you need an example. Congratulations to Simon and the rest of the class of 2020.