Steve Emt

Choices Matter Changemakers

Steve Emt knows what it takes to overcome adversity. He had it all; the popular kid in school, the star athlete…he was invincible. Or so he thought. At the age of 25, his life took a dramatic turn when a drunk driving crash changed him forever. After hours of surgery and days in a coma, he woke up to learn that he was paralyzed from the waist down and would never walk again. Confined to a wheelchair, Steve was faced with the challenge of learning how to live again.

He was also faced with a decision. Lose the battle to his disability. Or accept what had happened and realize that he needed to lead a life of educating and impacting others. He chose the latter…nothing was going to hold him back.

After 17 years of experimenting with many different adaptive sports, Steve was introduced to the sport of curling. He not only fell in love with the sport but realized that his dream of being an Olympian may still be attainable. Through hard work, commitment, and dedication, Steve earned a position on Team USA in the Winter of 2014 and has remained with the team ever since. To date, Steve is a 10-time U.S. National Champion, has competed in 7 World Championships and two Paralympic Games.

Steve has overcome many obstacles in his life including his accident, the death of both of his parents, and other setbacks by finishing college, earning his teaching and coaching degrees, and representing his country as a Paralympian.

He has spent the last 29 years educating, coaching, mentoring, and delivering his presentation to groups of all ages, empowering people to believe in themselves and become the hero of their own lives. He is now an accomplished public speaker, sharing his formula for success and empowering people to believe in themselves and become the hero of their own lives.

Rave Reviews

If you’d like to share your experience, we’d love to hear about it!

I wanted to send you a quick thank you for your persistence in getting Choices Matter to Winslow High School. I know that principals can be hard to reach sometimes, but I truly appreciate you keeping on me to get Choices Matter and Steve Emt to Winslow High School. There was a great buzz at the school yesterday and I have heard from parents how their students had come home talking about the presentation.
I truly appreciate the opportunity for our school and hope we can work together again to make it happen. Not to mention that your team was awesome yesterday! Please share my thanks with them as well!

Chad

Principal

Winslow High School

Winslow,

Maine

Dear Steve

I on truly inspired by your Story. It really showed me how I need to cherish my life and really think about the Choices that I make. thork you for coming to our school on inspiring many people. You are one of the best Public Speakes I have listened to.

Sophia

Student

Ellsworth High School

Ellsworth,

Maine

Dear Steve,

Thank you for coming in to EHS and sharing your story.

Your story really inspired me to be more safe while driving. I hope you continue to have an amazing life

Kaylee

Student

Ellsworth High School

Ellsworth,

Maine

Thank you for taking the time to come out to our school and share your story. I took away so many things from the presentation, specifically empoweriment!

I absolutely loved it and it made me think very deeply about the choices I make.

Lexi

Student

Ellsworth High School

Ellsworth,

Maine

I just want to thank you and everyone involved in this program. Our students had such a powerful experience this morning. We are so thankful to have offered this program to our students.

Shelton High School

Shelton,

Connecticut

I enjoyed the presentation because Mr. Emt seemed passionate about his work and presented beautifully. The positive message I got from the presentation was that even if life brings you down, you can always get back up and rebuild your goals. I would recommend Mr. Emt to other schools because he is relatable and a very nice guy. I relate to him because I was in a car crash once when I was going to my old school.

Student

Glenholme School

Washington,

Connecticut

Incredibly grateful and inspired after spending some time with Paralympian, Author, Coach, Teacher and Incredible Human Steve Emt.

Thank you Hillari Morgan for introducing me to ChoicesMatter.com, the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety for making the day possible and thank you Admin and staff at Poland Regional High School for your willingness to give up classroom time so close to the end of the year.

I have received so much positive feedback from students! Our Sophomore and Junior classes participated in his interactive and riveting presentation. One student shared this message:

“Hi Steve! I’m one of the kids from Poland Regional and I just wanted to thank you for your time today.

Your perspective is very inspirational especially with the things I’ve been going through I really needed that. You’re such a strong individual and I appreciate people like you who are willing to above and beyond for others, some people in this building probably really needed this today. Your story is beautiful despite the battle, thank you again. ☺️”

Keep making a difference Steve!!

Erin

Maine

Steve,

You truly took the bad situation and turned it into good. To be a change, to be a difference, and to be a role model. I learned alot as you were speaking. Never take something for granted, but also learned that you are the author for how you will live your life on earth, so do somethina great!

You changed our mindset on life. One bad moment doesn’t define the rest of your life story. Make a difference.

Class of 2026

Ellsworth High School

Ellsworth,

Maine

One thing I learned is to be KIND!

Thank you so much, you guys were awesome and me and my school couldn’t thank you enough.

Reggie

Ellsworth High School

Ellsworth,

Maine

Hello there, I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you. My son had prom this past weekend and we had all the talks with him. We told them different choices of how to get out of situations, as well as who he could call. He said that you helped him realize that he needs to stay his age and enjoy life and when he came home from prom a little after midnight, he said that there was alcohol at the after party and that’s when he decided to go home. When raising kids, I know it takes a village and thanks to you, you are part of our village and keeping my son safe as well as making good choices. Thank you so very much for coming to Saint Bernard High School.

Ellie

Saint Bernard High School

Connecticut

Steve on the Podcast

In this unforgettable episode of The Choices Matter Podcast, we sit down with Steve Emt, a featured speaker for the Choices Matter program and author of You D.E.C.I.D.E: A Six Step Action Plan to Becoming the Hero of Your Own Life.

A standout high school athlete, former West Point cadet, and UConn basketball walk-on, Steve’s future was bright — until one night in March 1995 when he chose to drive home drunk and crashed into a concrete abutment. He awoke from a coma to discover he was paralyzed from the waist down.

Now a Team USA Paralympic curler and motivational force, Steve uses his story to inspire students across the country to make better decisions behind the wheel and in life. With honesty, energy, and purpose, Steve reminds us that while we can’t always undo our past, we can take control of our future — one choice at a time.

Steve Emt Trailer

Steve Emt knows what it means to face life-altering choices — and rise above them. Once a star athlete who thought he was invincible, a drunk driving crash at 25 changed his life forever, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. But Steve refused to let that be the end of his story. He rebuilt his life, discovered adaptive sports, and went on to become a Paralympian, U.S. National Champion, and world-class motivational speaker. Today, he inspires audiences nationwide to take ownership of their choices, overcome adversity, and become the hero of their own story.