I was 4 years old when an escalator ripped off a piece of my leg. It took 118 stitches and several months in a dry cast after my surgeries to heal.
One morning, we sat with a doctor who told my mother that I may not be “normal”. I would most likely have issues with walking, running, etc. I remember that conversation like it was yesterday.
I grew up loving sports. I wanted to play everything. I couldn’t be pulled away from a field.
At the age of 19, I was offered a partial scholarship to play D1 lacrosse. I was an incoming transfer sophomore on a partial coming off an amazing rookie year from another school.
When I received the offer, I pushed it back on the table and told the coach I needed more. I needed a full scholarship. College had to be free for me.
I was willing to walk away from more money than I could dream of at 19. But I knew my worth. I knew what I had to overcome to be there. And I knew what I could do for the program.
Within 48 hours that coach called me with a full athletic-academic scholarship offer and I happily accepted.
I went on to start every game. I played my heart out. I received awards and recognition and broke records. But nothing compares to knowing that I never allowed someone’s opinion of me to shape my life or what I could achieve.
Know your worth. Recognize the journey it took you to get where you are and find people who see the same and are willing to take a chance on you.
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