Amy Purdy

At the age of 19, the day after I graduated high school, I moved to a place where it snowed, and I became a massage therapist. With this job, all I needed were my hands and my massage table by my side and I could go anywhere. For the first time in my life, I felt free, independent, and completely in control of my life.

Yes, there are things that I can't change, but the things I can, I'm going to do everything in my power to work very hard through them and come out stronger on the other side.

Oprah has been a true inspiration to me, so I'm truly grateful both to her for taking the time to speak with me, and to the folks at 'DWTS' who set it all up.

All through high school, I was incredibly healthy. I loved the outdoors, and I loved snowboarding because of the freedom.

I'm so comfortable on my snowboard that I don't have to think about it very much; it's somewhat second nature.

As humans, we need to reach out for support.

If you believe that you can't do something, then you're not going to do it. If you believe you can, and you're willing to put in the effort and figure out a way to do it, then the majority of the time, you can.

The human foot has bones and muscles and can balance back and forth. If you step and you maybe make a little mistake, your foot can compensate. But if I step in the wrong spot, my foot isn't going to compensate because it's just one piece of carbon fiber.

That's really what the Paralympics is about: these amazing athletes and this technology that's allowing them to reach their full potential.

Just the thought of being on Oprah's radar at all is humbling, but to actually have her take time get on the phone with me kind of blows my mind.

I think the designs and creativity are limitless with 3-D-printed clothing.

I'm not trying to be an inspiration, but I'm flattered to be considered one.