Ever since Sarah Panzau first picked up a volleyball at age 12, she lived to play the sport. In high school, she was a three-year varsity starter and by senior year, had received 23 Division I and Division II full-ride scholarships. Ultimately, she chose Southwestern Illinois College to stay close to her family. Sarah went on to win conference Freshman of the Year honors and in addition to holding multiple school records and being named to seven all-tournament teams, she is a two-time member of the National Junior College Athletic Association woman’s volleyball All-America team. Sarah Panzau knew what it was like to be on top of her game-- and on top of the world. But not long after, she nearly lost it all.
Somewhere between life as a competitively driven high-school athlete and the early years of college, Sarah began heading down a destructive path. She found herself hanging out with the wrong crowd, getting more out of drugs and dangerous levels of alcohol than hitting the books and spiking a ball. She was trapped in a pattern of making poor choices that would one day catch up with her.
That day was August 23, 2003. Just before 4:30 a.m. that morning, Sarah's car–and her life– spun out of control. With a blood-alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit, the 21-year-old decided to drive home drunk, missed a highway exit and rolled her car four times. Without a seat belt, she was ejected through the rear window of her car, her left arm was torn from her body and she was thrown onto the roadway.
She had been lucky all those other nights. This time, Sarah's decision to drive drunk landed her in the hospital for several months and has resulted in more than 30 surgeries. But all of the pain from her severe injuries does not compare to the pain of living life without her left arm. This was the same arm that helped propel Sarah to the top of her game in her favorite sport–the same arm that helped her earn a full-ride athletic scholarship.
Sarah is Living Proof that poor choices can have drastic consequences. Since the crash in 2003, her life has taken a new direction. Sarah has reached students at middle and high schools, as well as at colleges, with her messages about underage drinking, drunk driving, making smart choices, respecting parents and rising above disabilities. She poignantly describes the physical and emotional pain of a life that is forever changed because of the poor decision she made.
Sarah also talks about peer pressure, the “wrong crowd” and the meaning of “real” friends. She pleads with students to spot the telltale warning signs in others and underscores the need to seek help.
Sarah delivers her messages in a powerful and emotional manner that leaves young people spellbound. She doesn't speak from a podium. Instead, she makes a lasting impression by walking among the students donning athletic wear, so her scars help tell the story of her poor choices. Sarah’s youth, energy and humor are a direct connect with students.
Sarah’s message also is about determination and perseverance. Despite the crash and her loss of an arm, Sarah was able to represent her country by playing volleyball on the USA Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team. She toured internationally, competing in the World Championships, until injuries resulting from her now compromised state of health, ultimately caught up with her and forced her to give up the sport she loves. Today, Sarah talks about how her poor decisions took away her ability to play competitive volleyball.
