Senior Spotlight: Jillian Weidner, Wake Forest High School

“Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again.”

It’s a phrase Jillian Weidner has heard from her mother plenty of times, and a lesson she’s taken to heart. As a child, Jillian was diagnosed with tibial hemimelia, a condition in which someone is born with a shortened shinbone, which impacts her mobility and can even make it difficult to stand.

“Growing up, my knees and ankles weren’t stable, so I was falling constantly,” Jillian says.

With her mom’s words in her head, she’s never let the hemimelia slow her down. With determination and the support of friends and family, Jillian has worked through the hurdles of her condition to live her life to its fullest. She can now reliably walk and stay stable, but more strenuous activities are still a challenge.

Racing against the clock

“I can't play able-bodied sports, so I joined a wheelchair basketball team,” Jillian says. “I rented a track chair and joined my high school track team, where I'm still able to participate in the sports that I love, but in a way that is sustainable for me.”

‘Sustainable’ is putting it lightly. In her time on the Wake Forest High track team, Jillian has become a ten-time state champion in her category.

WFHS Track & Field coach Patrick Marshall says: “Jillian was one of the hardest workers on our team.” As the only wheelchair sprinter in the NCHSAA 4A classification, Jillian’s events were measured by qualifying time standards. “So not only did she have to compete alone against the clock, but at practice many times she had to do workouts on her own… She always had a great, positive attitude and was highly motivated to continue to improve in her events each year.”

Principal Melissa Thomas says she also strives to be a role model for younger athletes. “During the 2022-23 season, she acted as an assistant coach for her youth [wheelchair basketball] team, helping to share her love and knowledge of the sport to new and younger teammates.”

Only 24 hours in a day

Throughout her school career, she’s managed a busy lifestyle. Between classes, sports, extracurriculars and time with friends, her schedule can fill up quickly. Jillian is a member of the National Honor Society, National Achievers Society, History Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Yearbook Club, Youth in Government, Book Club, and is a co-founder of the school Crochet Club.

“Time management has become a lesson that I needed to learn and did learn for the most part, but I’m still working on it,” she says. “But having to learn how to juggle all of my different things was so necessary… You can't only do trainings and workouts. Then there’s school and you can't only be with friends. So it's just finding that balance… and sleep! Don't forget about that.”

Time to reflect

After graduation, Jillian plans to attend Appalachian State University to pursue a degree in Health Sciences. Her dream is to work in orthotics and prosthetics, helping others who are facing challenges similar to the ones she’s lived with for so many years. In her rare moments of downtime, Jillian says she’ll remember everyone at Wake Forest High who has supported her along the way.

“There are some teachers that have made such a huge impact on my life,” she says. “And I will never forget them and the administration. I will forever remember some of these people. The formative years of my life were in this school and I will never forget them.”