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SHERMAN – When Sherman Central School seniors graduate on June 26, they will be led by class valedictorian Nicholas Hlifka, who has been a leader academically and socially throughout their high school years.
Not one of them will think it strange that he is blind.
Hlifka has been blind since birth. He has some degree of light perception, but has never been able to distinguish any objects. Yet his life has been a journey not so much to overcome a disability as to simply pursue excellence, for which he credits his parents.
“Mom always said it (blindness) was a minor disadvantage, not a disability,” Hlifka said. “Some people might look at blindness as a reason to take the easy route. I never thought of it as a limiting factor. I always wanted to challenge myself.”
And he has, following a course that would challenge anyone. Not only is he first in his class, but he has taken several college-level math and science courses at Jamestown Community College. In ninth grade he won first place in the National Braille Challenge in Los Angeles which encompassed all of the United States and Canada.
Hlifka has traveled to Costa Rica and Peru in different years, engaging in activities such as whitewater rafting, zip-lining and extreme hiking on Machu Pichu.
As if this were not enough, he is an amateur radio operator and is highly involved in emergency communications. He is president of the Union City Wireless Association and assistant coordinator for Erie Skywarn, a weather spotting group. He also took part in a missing person search in the Allegheny National Forest a few years ago.
And did we mention that he has also flown an airplane?
While Hlifka attributes his success to several people in his life, his experience in aviation came through his relationship with Sherman chemistry and physics teacher Tim Cook, who has become an inspiration, role model and friend. Cook, who is a pilot, took Hflika up with him and allowed him to take the controls
“He has basically opened the world of science to me and the door to aviation,” Hlifka said. “He has always been there, helping me through whatever comes my way and whatever struggles I face.”
Hlifka’s achievements have not come easily. He bagan learning Braille at the age of four, well before most people with blindness take it on. And it is a constant struggle to learn in a world where most education is visally-based.
“Sometimes I get home at 4 p.m. and I’m not done until midnight,” Hlifka said. “I study calculus, trigonometry and chemistry. Trying to keep track of six equations without being able to look at the page is difficult.”
Hlifka said the teachers at Sherman have made it possible for him to succeed.
“The hardest thing has been to visualize the nature of a lot of things I study. The teachers at Sherman have really gone above and beyond to help me,” he said. “They describe things to me in a way that I can understand. There are things I never will be able to visualize, but maybe I can get a handle on them.”
Perhaps Hlifka’s greatest accomplishment, however, is not academic, but the way in which he inspires other students and teachers.
“Nick is one of the most remarkable people I have ever had the privilege of meeting,” said Sherman guidance counselor Chelsea Winchester.
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“He comes with a positive attitude and he wants to learn. He loves education and we have all become better educators because of him,” Winchester continued.
Winchester said that Hlifka naturally attracts people.
“He is an inspiration to other students. He is so friendly and patient with others. He allows our students to see the type of people they can be,” she said. “Students gravitate toward Nick. Even at JCC, people gravitated to him. They want to meet him.”
After graduation, Hlifka said he wants to pursue a degree in meteorology, studying at JCC and then SUNY Oswego. His fascination with the weather goes back to his earliest days.
“Thunderstorms were always cool,” Hlifka said. “I can remember when I was really little, my mom and I would watch the storm. I could see the lightning. I think it grew out of that.”
Hlifka said he plans to live on campus at JCC to become more independent. Even though he has fears like any other student, he is looking forward to the experience.
“I’m really excited for college and I know I’m going to meet so many great people,” he said. “When I see that I can live on my own and do it, I will be really proud because I like to prove to myself what I can do.”
He also expect to keep traveling. “I love to travel,” he said. ” want to go out west more, to Colorado, Wyoming, MontanaAlso Alaska. I need to go to Alaska.”
And what would be his advice to persons struggling with blindness or other adversities?
“Don’t give up. Your dreams are absolutely attainable. You can do what makes you happy. Keep working toward what you want in life and don’t let anything stop you,” he said. “Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t and don’t tell yourself that you can’t.”