Robert Paylor came to Cal as a student athlete for the National Championship Winning Cal Bears Men's Rugby Team in the fall of 2015. He worked his way up to the A-squad and got his first start in May 2017. However, he wouldn't ever forget this day. It changed his life forever. A devastating injury on the field, which was a violation of the rules of the game by the opponent, caused Robert to be paralysed. He was all set to become this star athlete and student at Cal, but all of a sudden his life fell apart. He was rushed to the hospital where the doctor told him that he will never walk again.
Taking all these emotions inside of him, Robert didn't give up easily. He spoke to our members about the current challenges that he faced and the desire to do what he set out to do in the beginning. Three years into his injury, Robert has come a long way already. He can move his hands, which at some point were also difficult to do. He also managed to walk by himself in a Cal Football Game in 2018 in front of a massive audience. He is self-driven and is on his way to gaining a degree at the prestigious Haas School of Business at the undergraduate level. If he couldn't realise his professional rugby dreams, he wants to achieve those that he had set out in the business world.
In his speech, Robert urges students to have a positive attitude and mindset at all times, believe in one's goals and passions, and look at perspectives in life by practising gratitude.
Robert's guest lecture was the first ever for the club as it tries to expand into the plethora of sports business in general besides imparting consulting skills to the members. SBG would like to thank Robert for sharing his valuable input with all our members!
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