Virginia student walks across graduation stage after shooting left him paralyzed: Watch

Francisco Guzman, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read

A Virginia student watched his high school graduation ceremony from a hospital bed after a shooting left him paralyzed. Seven years later, he walked across the stage to receive his college degree.

With the help of robotic technology, Khalil Watson rose from his wheelchair on Monday and walked across the stage to receive his associate’s degree from Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia.

“It kind of felt like a dream,” Watson told USA TODAY. “It didn’t really hit me until a couple days later after doing some reflecting on what I had to go through to get to this point.”

Professors, parents and his fellow graduates all gave him a standing ovation as he made his way across the stage.

“Khalil proved that anything is possible and his resiliency is an inspiration to all of us,” a spokesperson at Reynolds Community College told USA TODAY.

With the help of Ekso Bionics’ robotic exoskeleton, Khalil Watson rose from his wheelchair and walked across the stage to receive his associate’s degree from Reynolds Community College.
With the help of Ekso Bionics’ robotic exoskeleton, Khalil Watson rose from his wheelchair and walked across the stage to receive his associate’s degree from Reynolds Community College.

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‘Things can always be worse than what they are’

On May 26, 2016, Watson was shot in the neck after leaving a barber shop in Virginia. The gunshot wound fractured his spine and left him paralyzed from the chest down, Watson said.

The shooting happened two weeks before his high school graduation, which caused him to miss graduation and his senior prom.

“I know that things can always be worse than what they are,” Watson said. “That’s how I’m able to keep going.”

He was released from the hospital on August 11, 2016, Watson said.

Another chance to walk across the stage

After Watson was discharged from the hospital, he attended two different rehab facilities including Sheltering Arms Institute in late 2016.

The following year, Watson went back to Sheltering Arms and has been there ever since.

“When we started therapy after Khalil’s injury, he needed significant assistance for any mobility. Now, he is progressively increasing the amount of movement he can do on his own,” Sheltering Arms physical therapist Christina Smith said in a news release. “Every time I see him, he masters a new skill.”

In 2021, Watson was introduced to Ekso Bionics’ exoskeleton, a wearable device that helps patients with endurance and allows them to go beyond previous limits, the company says on its website.

In 2021, Khalil Watson was introduced to Ekso Bionics’ robotic exoskeleton, a wearable device that helps patients with endurance and allows them to go beyond previous limits.
In 2021, Khalil Watson was introduced to Ekso Bionics’ robotic exoskeleton, a wearable device that helps patients with endurance and allows them to go beyond previous limits.

When Watson found out he was graduating in May, he asked his physical therapist if he could use the device to walk at graduation.

“Knowing that I wasn’t able to attend my graduation physically in high school just added fuel and motivated me to make sure I was able to attend it in college,” Watson said.

Watson said it’s just the beginning. He plans to transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall, and earn a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia student walks at graduation after shooting left him paralyzed