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Logos photo by Jordan Melcher NIACC student Tyler Olson has adjusted to college with the help of Charlie.

Olson adjusts to college

‘I’d just like to be the regular guy’

Jordan Melcher
Assistant Editor

A fellow NIACC student from Lake Mills, IA is continuing not only his recovery from a spinal injury, but also his education and future.

Two years ago Tyler Olson made a tackle in a high school football game that made him paralyzed from the neck down.

Since then, Olson has made a productive recovery with the help of friends and the goal to becoming independent.

“I remember hearing my teammates yelling to ‘get up!’” Olson said. “When I couldn’t get up, that was the scariest moment of my life.”

After the tackle, Olson was rushed to the hospital and has been through physical therapy ever since.

As he stayed in the hospital, he also received a tutor to continue his studies during his junior year of high school.

On May 19, 2009 Olson came back to Lake Mills to finish high school and figure out what to do next, but he didn’t go home alone.

Olson is accompanied by a golden retriever named Charlie.

As Olson was on the transition from hospitals and physical therapy rooms, Charlie helped with the start of Olson living independently, a goal that most college students don’t realize until later during their education.

“To do my own thing and becoming independent is a big thing to me, and Charlie helps me with that,” Olson said.

Charlie helps open doors, pick up objects and perform other tasks for the day.

“He attends my classes and is really patient and pretty much makes the day enjoyable,” Olson said.

The year went on and Olson became a 2010 graduate from Lake Mills High School.

Now with Charlie and a writer’s assistant, Olson is attending NIACC.

“It has a nice atmosphere and it’s just new enough for me,” Olson said.

Coming to a new facility, Olson said he looks forward to just becoming a regular student on campus.

“Well I obviously get the attention right away, but I fit in after a while and that’s what I want, to blend in,” Olson said.

As Olson attends class, he also does his therapy and said he is glad that he can balance that with NIACC.

“Classes are going well so far except writing can be a bit difficult, but that’s what tutors are for,” Olson said.

Olson is also looking ahead to the future to what he wants to possibly do after NIACC. During his time of recovery in Minnesota, he said he met a friend who mentions of a new type of treatment in India that might help him recover.

“It’s good to have hope and to know that it is possibly there,” Olson said.

Olson will continue his studies at NIACC and his time in Iowa for the next few years.

“I don’t really like being the center of attention because of my situation and I’d just like to be the regular guy,” Olson said. “Just being known as Tyler Olson and not because of what happened to me.”