Jets, Jamal Adams surprise and honor inspirational Bergenfield NJ guidance counselor

Andy Vasquez | NorthJersey

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Lauren LaPorta has always loved the Jets. In fact, Tuesday morning, the Bergenfield High School guidance counselor was on her computer trying to buy tickets for a preseason game.

She's thrilled that her team drafted quarterback Sam Darnold with the No. 3 pick. She believes safety Jamal Adams will transform the defense.

That just made it all the more surreal Tuesday afternoon when LaPorta pointed her motorized wheelchair into the school gym. She was there to help a student. Instead, she saw her entire family wearing Jets hats, a room full of her students, and Adams himself.

And when LaPorta realized they were there to honor her inspirational work as a teacher, all she could do was cry.

“It was one of the highlights of my entire life,” LaPorta said. “It was great. … I’ve never been so surprised, or shocked.”

The Jets honored LaPorta as the winner of their M&T Bank Touchdown For Teachers program, surprising her with a visit from Adams and presenting Bergenfield High School with a $2,000 grant on her behalf. She’s been invited to attend training camp as a VIP guest and was also presented with a customized jersey.

LaPorta is only in her fourth year as a guidance counselor, but she’s already done plenty to help and inspire her students. She created an organization at Bergenfield that helps students show their school spirit and use it to make the community better. She’s set up food and clothing drives, and during the holidays she collects toys for children in need. She also has organized events to help and honor first responders and veterans.

And she’s done it all from her wheelchair since she was 11 years old.

In July of 2000, LaPorta slipped while diving into her backyard pool. She remembers her hands being up before she fell awkwardly into the water. It didn’t matter. She hit her head on the floor of the pool and completely fractured her C5 vertebrae. Her life changed forever.

What an awesome young lady Ms. Laporta is. Well deserved. Keep inspiring those kids. You’re a true hero!!! https://t.co/E7uxhWdRmw — Jamal Adams (@TheAdamsEra) June 6, 2018

LaPorta doesn’t let paralysis define her. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself. She believes that this was supposed to happen, just the same way she believes she was meant to be a guidance counselor.

“I’ve always liked being around people and I’ve always liked being an ear for anyone that if they need to talk and let out their emotions and come to me for advice, they can," she said. "And I think ever since I got hurt, too, it put a different perspective on life. I can’t think of another career that would fit me and my personality and what I’ve been through."

In recent years, LaPorta has gone to physical therapy and tries to work out regularly. She can stand and walk short distances with assistance. She knows she’ll probably never walk normally again. But LaPorta hopes that one day, medical advances will get to point where she can walk into a restaurant and sit down without assistance.

Every day is hard. But LaPorta believes her situation gives her an “edge” as a guidance counselor.

“When they see someone in a wheelchair, they’re less likely to complain as much,” LaPorta said, “because they can see, ‘Well, Ms. LaPorta, even though she broke her neck, she went through all she went through, she gets up every day, gets dressed, sits in her wheelchair and comes to work.’

"Is it exhausting sometimes? Absolutely. But I really do love my job and the kids here are phenomenal. I really can say, every day, I wake up and I just absolutely love my job."

Tuesday just turned out to be a little more special than most.

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com

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