Give Me A Break by Brett

Give Me A Break by Brett - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

In the year 2015, my junior year of High School, I sustained an injury to my collarbone. I was crushed as I caught a pass and my bone shattered into five different pieces. I immediately knew something was wrong, and my thoughts were proven to be correct as I ended up having to have surgery, with the doctor putting a titanium plate and seven screws. Recovering, and dealing with this injury was one of the most challenging things I have had to do in my young life. Breaking my collarbone and losing a year of football made me work that much harder to get back on the field.
The day after surgery was the worst. But not because of what you may think. I was told that I may not be able to play football again. I was incredibly devastated, but as with everything, time heals all. Before I knew it I was having my stitches removed, being able to get out of the sling, and progressing toward lifting my arm. The times in between the milestones were the most difficult. In my head I kept thinking that I was ready to start doing the little things, like blowing my own nose, but as I tried my muscles and bones failed me. It was at these times that I had to rely on my family the most. They helped me do everything; it was with them that I learned the lesson of family and what it truly means. When you get to the point when you can count on your family to do anything for you and you them, it is a wonderful feeling. You feel as if no matter what you are going through, you are not alone.
After four months of strenuous recovery, I was finally cleared to begin working out again. When I first walked back to the weight room, I was nervous that I would injure myself again but that feeling quickly subsided. I began to work out and was taken aback by how little I could lift. I knew when I was injured that I would be weaker but I had no idea I would hardly be able to lift the bar. However, with my mindset that I was not going to let this setback get the best of me, I was nearing my old maxes within months. As I began to even break my own records, I knew something; I was going to play football for my High School again.
I had a talk with my parents, doctor, and coach to convince them that I was ready and prepared to play again. Surprisingly, my dad, doctor and coach were relatively easy to convince. However with my mother, it was a whole other story. She was very adamant at me not playing again, not because she didn’t want me to play, but because she didn’t want to see me get hurt again. She was not easily swayed but I convinced her that I am bigger and stronger now and I would not get hurt. She agreed. I was ecstatic, having the last obstacle out of the way, I was on my way to playing again.
Summer was here before I knew it and along with it came summer football workouts. The workouts usually take place in the one-hundred degree heat and include a lot of running, to be short, they are not fun. For me however, I found the silver lining, I was able to be a part of a program I thought was taken away from me. With each lung burning sprint I relished in the opportunity to better myself and prepare for the upcoming season.
Before I knew it, the first game of the season was here. With all my hard work over the summer, I found myself starting on both offense and defense. I was extremely proud of this. On our first play of our first game of the season, we score a touchdown, which I had the leading block for. That play was what set the tone of the season for us. We would end up going 5-4 which I was contempt with. I had played the entire season without sustaining an injury, which I am most grateful for. With the end of the season came the League honors. In my own eyes I was a good player, nothing more nothing less, I did not expect to win any award. This is why when I received an honorable mention for my role on defense and an incredible first team all-league award for my role on offense I was shocked. It truly was the perfect way to cap off a senior football season that I had not expected to have.
With my injury, I had not expected to be able to play football again, let alone standout in my final season. It was with the strength of my family and the motivation they continually fed me during my recovery that made me able to bounce back with such force. The lesson of family is one that before my injury I had taken for granted. That will not be the case now. This lesson has made me a better person and has improved me greatly. It is just odd that it took such an event to teach me it.