Standing up for her dreams

High schooler overcomes paralysis to receive her diploma

Malikina got the chance to walk across the stage Wednesday.

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- All she wanted to do was walk across the stage and get her high school diploma.

Wednesday night, 18-year-old Masha Malikina did just that -- at her very own ceremony at the Philips Arena, attended by more than 1,900 people, most of them strangers, cheering her on.

"Today's not about me crossing the stage," she said. "Today's more about me setting a goal."

Three years ago, a car accident on the way home from Berkmar High School in the Atlanta suburb of Lilburn left Malikina paralyzed from the waist down. The crash killed one of her friends.

But Malikina, a Russian immigrant who came to America after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, was determined to heal and move on. She finished her senior year with honors.

Her hopes were dashed when the school's principal said he would not allow her to walk across the stage. His reasons, Malikina says, included safety concerns, liability issues and a complaint she would take too long to cross.

Despite her protests, the principal would not budge.

"Piece of cake," Malikina said after painstakingly crossing the stage.

"I'm not an orthopedic doctor," principal Jim Markham said in a recent televised interview. "My decision was based on the feeling that she might fall and injure herself."

So, on graduation day Malikina said she sat in the audience and cried. Not allowed to walk, she wheeled herself on the stage to accept her diploma.

But her sorrow ended there. Malikina and family told her story to anyone who would listen.

Eventually, a local radio station picked it up. On a whim, one of the deejays offered to give Malikina her very own graduation -- complete with a walk across the stage -- to celebrate her achievement.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO When disabled Masha Malikina was denied the chance to walk across a stage to receive her high school diploma, her friends and family gave her a personal ceremony (June 19) Play video

Within a day, Philips Arena had donated the venue and local merchants had chipped in with signs, food and graduation programs. The whole city was invited to attend.

Malikina said she still is overwhelmed.

"It makes me feel good to know that there are people who will support you, who will support the right thing," Malikina said, "who recognize that hard work pays off."

Wednesday evening, Malikina put on her bright blue cap and gown and entered the arena to cheers.

The night was truly hers, complete with a favorite Dr. Seuss selection read aloud, a poem written and recited just for her, and the national anthem sung by a best friend.

Christopher Reeve, the "Superman" actor now confined to a wheelchair, even wrote Malikina a letter calling her "a true inspiration."

At the appointed time, former NBA player Dominique Wilkins stood at the podium and invited Malikina to receive her diploma.

The mood in the stands was festive, complete with beach balls.

With a friend's help, she slowly reached for her walker, raised herself from her wheelchair, and set one foot in front of the other.

"You go, girl!" came the cheers, "We love you, Masha!"

In less than a minute she had reached the lectern and taken hold of her diploma. "Piece of cake!" she exclaimed, grinning from the understatement.

Off to college in the fall, Malikina says she plans to spend the summer teaching others about following their dreams, using her experience as an example.

As she told the audience Wednesday night: "As far as goals go, never set 'em too low. Always set 'em high."