University of New Mexico student Sean Kerwin will soon receive his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, but his journey was made more difficult when he was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him badly injured.

Kerwin began pursuing his undergraduate degree in Fall 2012. He was always driven to finish his degree in four years despite being told it takes most people to do it in five. Everything was going according to plan until February 2014 when he was t-boned by a truck that ran a red light. He was left with five broken ribs, a punctured lung, a torn quadricep, road rash and some other minor fractures.

He was unable to attend school, much less do anything, for the next month. Kerwin said that the road to recovery was a difficult one, but the staff at UNM was very helpful.

“It is truly by the grace of God that I lived through that…my instructors did not hesitate to help me out and provide opportunities to learn the material I needed to learn, and complete all assignments and tests while recovering.”

 

—   2016 UNM spring graduate Sean Kerwin

“It is truly by the grace of God that I lived through that…my instructors did not hesitate to help me out and provide opportunities to learn the material I needed to learn and complete all assignments and tests while recovering,” Kerwin said.

UNM graduate Sean Kerwin
UNM graduate Sean Kerwin says "the greatest thing about the university has been his opportunities to meet and work with a variety of people."

Although it was challenging, Kerwin stayed determined and feels proud to be able to walk with his peers.

He said that his time at UNM has been valuable. “Being a student at UNM has really helped me to broaden my horizons by allowing me to experience the great diversity of cultures, academics and people that attend this university,” Kerwin said. He said that the greatest thing about the university has been his opportunities to meet and work with a variety of people.

After graduation, Kerwin said that he plans to work on pursuing a career. He hopes to go back to school for a master’s degree in Engineering.

Kerwin said his biggest piece of advice for students who are struggling or losing hope is to focus on the end result. “It may not be pretty, it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it and you’ll be stronger for having gone through it,” he said.