Broken or Healed by Prince Zaire

Broken or Healed by Prince Zaire - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

An average day goes by with a boy struck by his passion. I was playing basketball and went for a dunk. Suddenly it felt like something was thrown at my knee. Although, in reality, my tendon tore my bone in half right beneath the growth plate. I tried to force my opposite leg to break my fall, leaving me thinking, "What happened to my leg?" I laughed at the moment, but the joke ended quickly. A huge boulder appeared strapped to my leg because the bone was protruding beneath my skin. I was rushed to be hospitalized. When the pain started it hit me like an exploding bullet train. I was close to tears, gripping my arms, hoping to distract myself, but nothing worked. I was given two different medications, but the pain I felt wouldn't numb. I was finally ready for surgery which was going to be one of the scariest experiences I would ever have to go through. I came to terms with the permanent mark left but was this for better or worse? You'd say worse because I was going to have an excruciatingly painful recovery, but I was an athlete with overworked muscles and strong tendons; it was bound to snap eventually. Maybe this could be a good break for me.
The recovery was tough and I had physical therapy four times a week. There were days I couldn't leave the bed and all I did was sleep and cry. My appetite was nonexistent. I lost 30 pounds by the time I healed. I looked and felt pathetic most days, and got to a point where I was too upset to be with friends. Alone inside with my thoughts for hours, I couldn't do things for myself and started to wonder about how long I would be crippled like this. This stopped me from doing things I enjoyed and was one of my biggest roadblocks. Would everything be okay in the end?
A month later and there’s progress, I feel a little stronger. One day during my recovery, I was invited to a party and felt I had enough strength to walk four houses down. I made it there and back, and my leg was in minor pain. However, the morning after, I felt the most pain I've felt in my life. I tried my hardest not to yell, but it felt like a thousand needles were attacking me. The slightest bend in my knee left a coursing pain. I didn't get up for five days, and when I finally did, I felt weak and lost the progress I fought so hard to make. I learned my wound was infected and needed antibiotics to heal. I instantly regretted my decision and felt like I added another roadblock. It took a while to get into the recovery mindset, but when I did, I made sure not to hold back. Walking without crutches gave me an unbalanced feeling, but I was determined to achieve my goals. In a few months, I was finally working out for real with less pain. I pushed myself to learn new exercises to fulfill my potential.
I was back! Finishing my physical therapy, I became even stronger than before. Daily, I pushed myself to gain more mobility and strength. This experience became a lesson in disguise. Initially, I was hurt, feeling I would never run the same or be able to do sports, but with time and hard work I put into muscle recovery, my legs became stronger than they were before. I was back to skating and the other things I enjoyed. I even started football for the first time and received a defensive MVP award. I took setbacks and turned them into motivation. This journey made me an overall stronger man, both physically and mentally. I'm truly thankful for the patience it taught me and the encouragement to help others through similar healing opportunities as a therapist.