his graduation nbc news's gabe gutierrez has more >> reporter: these small steps mean a lot to kalil watson he was shot in the neck, the resulting spinal cord injury left him paralyzed from the neck down >> i had to learn how to eat, speak and breathe on my own. >> reporter: one of the things he missed while in the hospital, his high school graduation kalil was determined to continue his education, studying social work in college. >> i have a passion for helping others after going through the things i have experienced i feel like i would be easy to connect with and understand individuals who have similar or worse situations. >> reporter: now thanks to some help from this robotic exoskeleton and therapist at sheltering arms institute in virginia, kalil stepping up on to this stage at the reynolds community college. walking to receive his associate degree in pre social work. >> god, friends, my family, i mean, only the people who know what it took for me to get to this point. >> reporter: now with his diploma in hand, kalil is sharing this message. >> anything is possible. in life you will ex