When you get your exams results as a teen the world seems like it is brimming with opportunity and excitement.
But TV presenter Sophie Morgan ended up crashing her car at 18 on A-Levels results day as she drove her friends to celebratory parties.
Her hopes of becoming a lawyer smashed apart after she became instantly paralysed from the chest down.
Now, 18 years have passed since her she sustained a T6 spinal chord injury as a teenager, 37-year-old Sophie has had to learn how to navigate life with a disability – and she has certainly not let her physical constraints stop her from striving for success.
Against the odds, the disability advocate has become one of the world’s only TV presenters with a physically disability – having hosted the likes of the Paralympic Games and becoming a frequent personality on Loose Women.
Despite her “wild” and “rebellious” side having ended her up with life-changing injuries, the strong willed presenter decided to take life by the reins and has done it her own way.
After penning a book about the highs and lows of her life, called Driving Forwards, Sophie spoke exclusively to the Daily Star about what her life has been like since the crash.
She said: “Before the crash I’d planned to be a lawyer and after the crash that all changed.
“I just wanted to do what I loved and do what made me happy, find meaning for my life and that certainly was not a straightforward mission but I definitely kept my values and whatever I did, I felt fulfilled.
“The most difficult part of finding purpose after the crash really was the fact that I’ve had so many things to fight against that I think that the things I would’ve done in my life would have been quite different if I didn’t have a mission to change people’s perception.
“I was so frustrated with the way I was being treated by others and so that led me into activism and advocacy in a way that I didn’t really anticipate and that became my purpose."
She continued: “I don’t necessarily think that’s always healthy to be fighting for inclusion and fighting for acceptance all the time it’s quite exhausting and often I’ve felt I’d rather spend my time painting.
“But this is the work I’m doing and I’m very proud of it.
“The one thing that will always tell you that you are doing what you meant to do, you just feel in the morning that you want to go and do what you’re doing- you’re on the right track.”
The host has set out to change the stereotype of those with a physical disability, and it’s safe to say her hard work is paying off.
Sophie feels immensely proud of the fact she is able to hold the title of being one of the first and few physically disabled presenters in the world – but recognises that there needs to be more representation in the industry.
She said: “I feel very proud to be one of the first and few physically disabled presenters in the world, it’s something I have worked very hard to do,
“But I stand on the shoulders of those who come before me, as there have been so many people who have pushed through doors to allow people like me to get here.
“I am a product of all their hard work and I hope to do the same for others who come after me. We’ve got a long way to go.
“I think one of the reasons why I was able to achieve it is because so many people have pushed so hard to enable people like me to.
“I came into this business at a time when we had other movements were happening; the Paralympics gave so many broadcasting opportunities, it’s been a movement that I was able to ride the wave.”
Now Sophie has reflected on her life being bound to a wheelchair for the last 18 years in her newly released book.
Having had time to sit and think about her journey so far during the first lockdown back in 2020, Sophie knew it was the right time to start writing – but it was not easy for the host.
She added: “We were in lockdown and it was the perfect time to sit and reflect. It was also to do with the fact it had been 18 years that I had been living disabled and 18 years non-disabled, which made it a particular point in my life that felt right.
“The writing itself as I hadn’t written a book before, so that was a real challenge for me. But of course going back and writing a story about the most pivotal point of my life, the impact it had on my family and friends was also really challenging.
“But I think as I went through it, it became healing.
“The bad memories it brought up were to do with the fear I felt at the beginning of this journey not knowing what was possible for someone like me.
“The great unknown of being disabled. Those feelings were horrible to bring back up again – the doom and dread.”
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