June 19, 2012 Free Lance-Star
TYLER COLLINS, KING GEORGE HIGH WHAT HE OVERCAME: Last summer, Tyler passed out and hit his head, which led to a lengthy hospitalization and brain surgery. Tyler started his senior year determined to do well, despite having trouble focusing. He returned to the school swim team, although he was disappointed in his performance. "I just wasn’t as fast as I’d hoped I’d be my senior year. But I was still able to be on the team, which was good." IN HIS WORDS: "I didn’t let this stop me, and I didn’t pity myself and mull it over every day. I looked around, and I have done the best I could. I have a lot more patience now, and I can kind of say that I’m a little more mature." WHAT’S NEXT: Virginia Tech’s engineering program. Tyler hopes to serve his country by working with the Department of Defense as a nuclear or chemical engineer.