Season Ending Injury by McKenna

Season Ending Injury by McKenna - May 2022 Scholarship Essay

Statistically speaking, I have dedicated well over twenty percent of my life to the sport of basketball. I have done the math, and I have played in approximately one thousand basketball games in my career thus far. That means I have devoted over two thousand hours to playing games alone. Additionally, I have spent just under twenty - three thousand hours on endless amounts of basketball practice, late nights spent in the gym, and early morning training sessions since I was in third grade. I never thought about it this way until I couldn’t invest any time into basketball for the duration of my sophomore year.

During one of my off season workouts, I pivoted around a cone - a motion I had done a million times - when my knee popped. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. I drove home shortly after as if nothing had happened, only to find out that my knee was injured. An injury that required surgery and a six month long recovery. I have never felt pain so severe than when I was told that news. My stomach started to tighten and suddenly I couldn’t breathe. Tears streamed down my face even though I couldn’t feel them. My body and mind went completely numb. At that moment, I was ready to give up. I thought then and there that my basketball career was over. The long road to recovery seemed daunting and out of reach. If it weren’t for my teammates, family, and friends, I most likely would have given up entirely.

After I underwent surgery, I was tasked with physical therapy twice a week as well as a serious icing regiment. I experienced several emotions during my recovery, but the most prominent one was helplessness. The worst part of my experience was watching my team practice from the sidelines, and witnessing my Dad coach every player... except for me. I could only cheer for my team from the sidelines rather than contributing to their wins and losses. Knowing I couldn’t get into the game when the team needed me most was heartbreaking. Even after several weeks of physical therapy, my leg felt limp and weak, and I was scared to walk on it again, much less play on it.

During this time, my parents saw me struggling physically and mentally. They emphasized the important idea that, “It’s not how you fall, but how you get back up.” They expressed that this wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened to me. My Dad explained that I could continue to look down on myself or I could work twice as hard to return back to the game of basketball stronger and faster than I was before. With this new mindset, I finally believed that it could be possible for me to play my sophomore year. Once I fully embraced this mentality, an important skill - perseverance and hard work - played a significant role in my recovery.

With those new skills, I was able to participate in practices just four months after my surgery. Due to all of my hard work and dedication to my recovery, I was able to participate in the last four games of the season. I continue to train, practice, and play like I might not be able to the day after. I understand now that nothing can be taken for granted, and the things I enjoy most in life can be stripped away from me at any given second. I have to be prepared for the lows in life, and figure out ways to bounce back better than I was before. I strongly believe that everything in life happens for a reason. I say this because my knee injury changed me as a player, student, daughter, and friend…for the better. I have developed a next level work ethic. I dedicate every ounce of energy towards everything I do. I have a more optimistic mindset, and most importantly, I continue to appreciate all of the little things in my life.