We recently had the chance to connect with Schuyler Arakawa and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Schuyler, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Spending time with my family, doubling as my full-time caregivers, whether it’s just sitting together and watching a movie or going out to eat, they make me feel so loved. And the excitement from my 3 diva dachshunds each time I see them show how much unconditional love they can give.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Schuyler Arakawa and I’m 32 years old. I graduated from Yale in 2015 and have always been interested in social enterprise and traveled to 5 out of the 7 continents, in 2016, in Colombia, a boulder fell on me on a white water rafting trip and gave me a traumatic brain injury so I’m in a wheelchair for now.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I have always wanted to make a big impact on the world and the world gave me a very comical way of making that happen. Now I have discovered a new purpose in the wheelchair I never even thought possible. So although the steps have changed, the overall outcome is the same.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
When the boulder hit and I was wheelchair bound, I thought my dreams were over. But instead it just opened me up to different and even bigger dreams. I’ve learned how to turn boulders into blessings.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think society as a whole tends to put too much emphasis on outward success. Having just graduated from Yale, I had achieved societal success, but it wasn’t until I was still happy after experiencing something hard that I could have any clout. I ended up learning more from the school of hard knocks than a prestigious university.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people are inspired knowing I faced something hard but still persisted with a smile on my face. I want people to learn that if I can smile through something hard they can too.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: Schuyler Arakawa
- Facebook: Ms Wheelchair Florida 2025- Schuyler Arakawa
- Youtube: Schuyler Arakawa
- Other: Instagram: mswheelchairfl2025
