Within the challenges of my life, resilience and compassion come together to create a story that rises above challenges. My narrative is marked by overcoming physical setbacks, navigating diverse experiences, and grappling with the family grief.
My senior year of high school while passionately pursuing basketball, I was met with an unforeseen challenge. A severe injury during a game, resulting in a major concussion, abruptly halted not just my season but also led to a three-month medical leave from school. This period of recovery became a turning point, fostering a spirit of resilience that would shape my future. This injury was the worst one that I have ever had my whole life, so overcoming it was a challenge both mentally and physically. With it being my senior year I knew that it would be my last time playing organized basketball which made me very upset. A few days after the accident, I thought to myself “Why am I dwelling on something that happened in the past? I cannot undo the injury.” Once I was clear to go back to school and continue sports I worked really hard in both and became an all conference track athlete, and graduated with a 3.9 gpa.
I used physical activity as a vehicle to not only improve my wellbeing and outlook on life during this time, but also to regain my athletic ability, and push to new limits proving to myself that the comeback can be more powerful than the initial pursuit. I found a passion as an athlete on the track and field team. However, the journey wasn’t without its share of disappointments. A setback during my sophomore year, failing to make the team, served as a painful reminder of life’s uncertainties and prompted an opportunity for either redirection of focus toward new horizons, or an opportunity to accept failure and quit. I chose the former. Looking back on my high school injury, I once again leaned on those coping skills of physical activity and a positive mindset to move me through another disappointment.
Tragically, in 2017, my grandpa passed away from liver failure, and the family faced the heart-wrenching decision to remove life support. This experience, while undoubtedly painful, gave me so much more compassion and empathy, shaping my perspective on relationships and the importance of understanding and supporting loved ones. By losing my grandpa, I was made very aware of the importance of human connection. As my family and I leaned on one another for support during such a hard time, I realized that without human connection and supportive relationships going through a painful event such as this one would be unbearable. Developing the skills to put my feelings into words with my loved ones, and providing a safe space for them to express their feelings became invaluable as we moved through our grief together as a family.
As I pursue a career in personal training and peer support, the story of my life continues to evolve. Each chapter, marked by resilience, and a commitment to personal growth, contributes to a story that inspires others to overcome their struggles.