Rechercher dans ce blog

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Youngest port ambassador appointed at Port Canaveral - News 13 Orlando

blogjewishscene.blogspot.com

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the world, 2020 was an impactful year and for Brevard County teen Jessica Maxwell, she was no exception. It wasn’t just the pandemic, though, that caused a seismic shift for her. 

Just before her senior year of high school, Maxwell had a horse riding accident which left her with a broken arm.


What You Need To Know

  • Jessica Maxwell, 18, is the youngest Port Ambassador since the position began in 1953
  • The role is a non-paid, volunteer position to help educate the public on Port activities and initiatives
  • Maxwell is the first Port Ambassador for Commissioner Robyn Hattaway

The break did two things for Maxwell simultaneously: On the negative side, it stopped her plan of enlisting in the Navy after graduating from Rockledge High School; but it also helped save her life. 

While being treated for the broken arm, doctors discovered that she had an aggressive form of bone cancer. She had to have her arm amputated, but that, combined with chemo therapy, kept her alive. 

It’s also why she decided to get back to horse riding as soon as possible.

“It's hard to imagine my life without them," Maxwell said. "And if you really want to look at it, horses quite literally saved my life, if I wouldn't have had the accident, I wouldn't be here today."

That tenacity also opened another door for her: a volunteer role at Port Canaveral as a Port Ambassador. 

During the August meeting of the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners, Port Commissioner Robyn Hattaway appointed the 18-year-old as her first Port Ambassador.

Maxwell is also the youngest Port Ambassador since the role’s inception in 1953, according to Port Canaveral officials.

“A large part of my passion is workforce development and introducing our community to all the great career paths at the port,” Hattaway said. “And when I knew that she'd sort of had one door closed, I thought, well, let's get somebody out here that that's looking for an opportunity.”

In this role, Maxwell will be able to help communicate what Port Canaveral has to offer and its strategic plans to the community and businesses. She will also help Hattaway with the Port’s Junior Port Ambassador program. 

During high school, Maxwell participated in her school’s Helping Educate Leaders in Martitime (HELM) program and was a Battalion Commander for Rockledge High School ROTC. 

She said she hopes both her age and her ability to persevere past her adversity can be an inspiration to other teens.

“I want more kids my age to be able to come in and know that after high school, they can come and have a job here, especially if they go through the home program,” Maxwell said. “It'll be a good opportunity to work out here also with my case of only having one arm. I want to show that people, even though they're amputated, can still work and do things that shouldn't stop them.” 

Adblock test (Why?)



"port" - Google News
October 05, 2021 at 06:44AM
https://ift.tt/3mrmGtm

Youngest port ambassador appointed at Port Canaveral - News 13 Orlando
"port" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2VXul6u
https://ift.tt/2WmIhpL

No comments:

Post a Comment

Search

Featured Post

Los Angeles like 'war scene' after fires - Biden - RTÉ News

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Los Angeles like 'war scene' after fires - Biden    RTÉ News "Scene" - Google Ne...

Postingan Populer