During my senior year of high school, I went through some difficult challenges. I played basketball for four years and I was the co-captain on the varsity team my senior year. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish my senior season on the team because I broke my back (yes, it hurt ALOT). This was extremely discouraging because the year before, I tore my ACL and I was in rehab during the whole season. Having back to back injuries made me become very bitter, especially towards basketball. When I found out that I couldn't finish out the season, I wanted to walk away from basketball completely. I kept thinking to myself that it wasn't fair and apparently I just wasn't meant to have basketball in my life. My assistant varsity coach is who completely changed my mind set. During one of our tournament games, she pulled me aside and we had a long discussion about basketball and life. She reminded me that ultimately the decision was mine, but she told me I shouldn't walk away from the game. She understood the anger and bitterness I felt towards my injuries. But she reminded me that I can still be a great basketball player, even if I wasn't on the court anymore. She told me that I can still be the co-captain on varsity and encourage my team during practice and games. But more importantly, she told me about how the freshman team looked up to me. Apparently, the younger girls looked up to me because they saw that I never gave up even though at some points I could barely walk, let alone play in a game. After this talk, I became an assistant coach for the freshman team and gave them all the knowledge and encouragement that I could.
This ended up being a negative situation that turned into a positive one. I learned that even though in life we have a set plan of what we want to do, it might not always end up that way. And even if it doesn't, there's a reason why it happened and we are either going to learn something from it or grow as a person. I believe that this situation will help me deal with difficult situations with my mentee's. For example, my mentee can have their heart set on being a certain major, but something changed, and they end up majoring in something different. I can just remind them that everything happens for a reason and you can always learn something in any situation that gets put in front of you.
(P.S- I apologize for how long and deep this post is, it was the best example that I think of)
Wow Jocelyn! I admire you. Despite all the obstacles you were faced with you were still able to surround yourself around the sport you love. I bet you were a great mentor to those young girls. With a broken back and torn ACL you were physically broken, temporarily!!! You didn't let it break you mentally and for that I applaud you. I have seen friends and family walk away from something they love because of one bad experience, injury, or mishap. I sometimes wonder how much they regret it.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, never apologize for speaking your truth! That's your reality, who cares how long it is.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I applaud you for being so brave, and sticking around to take part in something even if you could not be directly involved. I had a similar experience...I was on my school's track and field team, and was accepted to go to the state competition to throw the discus. Two weeks later, after practice, I got into a car accident. When getting a check up to make sure I wasn't injured, the doctor found that I have a lung problem, and I was supposed to avoid outside physical activity. AKA: no more track and field. I was not brave enough to stay and support, I let the bitterness get the best of me. YOU had the courage to stay. THATS INCREDIBLE!
This was very inspiring to hear! Even through all the obstacles you faced and knowing that you had a passion for something so strongly you didn't give up just because you broke your break. You kept going and found another way to make this happen and do what you love. I admire this so much because it reminds me of myself alot. I have been dancing for 14 years and I gave it all up eventually this past year but for the last 5 years i found out i had a rare illness and disease and dancing was the one thing killing me more every minute but i found ways to make it work and took precautions so that i could still do what i love and be happy too. I absolutely loved your post and truly thought it was amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis was very inspiring to hear! Even through all the obstacles you faced and knowing that you had a passion for something so strongly you didn't give up just because you broke your break. You kept going and found another way to make this happen and do what you love. I admire this so much because it reminds me of myself alot. I have been dancing for 14 years and I gave it all up eventually this past year but for the last 5 years i found out i had a rare illness and disease and dancing was the one thing killing me more every minute but i found ways to make it work and took precautions so that i could still do what i love and be happy too. I absolutely loved your post and truly thought it was amazing.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn,
ReplyDeleteDo not apologize for how deep you post is. Like I said before I am very emotional and I never apologize for that because that is amongst other traits is what makes me, me. So this story and your ability to share it is what makes you, you. I bet a lot of students will be respect and understand this experience and I hope you share it with them. I think positivity is one of the best traits to have, now I know its hard to keep on smiling and raying positive because we are human we have break downs but we also have break throughs and I love how you say this experience as a that.