Making a Comeback

The summer after my freshman year, I fractured my leg playing in a baseball game. A second base slide into a bag that didn't break away left me in a combination of short and long leg casts for the next nine weeks. This unfortunate event happened two days after the release of school and directly following a triumphant season of outdoor Varsity Track. It seemed as though life was trying to get me down, but I wouldn't let it. I held strong for the duration of my plight, and the following fall I joined the cross country team. Barely able to keep myself walking for an entire school day, I followed up each day with intense training. I was forced to push myself harder and harder each and every day. Looking for inspiration, I found it in the words of my coach.

Having just successfully completed a season of Outdoor Track, not being able to walk without crutches for six weeks was absolutely devastating. The inactivity, so suddenly thrust upon my lifestyle, soon began to have its effects, including muscle atrophy and disrupted sleep patterns as a result of being so uncomfortable. The most prevalent, however, became apparent as soon as I was able to walk once again. My left leg was noticeably smaller than my right, and I could hardly support myself for an entire day. The impact this injury had on my life was enormous, but I was able to look at others around me and see how they found success in similar situations.

My own running Coach knew exactly how to handle a situation like mine. Early into my recovery, he gave me a sheet of paper that he instructed me to hang on the wall of my room. It read: "Pain is temporary; glory is forever." Possibly the most inspirational phrase I'd ever heard, I immediately took it to heart. Those six words became the driving force behind the push for my recovery. He too had previously suffered devastating leg injuries, but was still able to push himself to become a successful competitor for the Wake Forest University Cross Country Team. The wisdom and guidance he bestowed upon me proved invaluable. I was very fortunate in this respect; to have such a great mentor become such a prevalent force in my life was an absolute privilege. I cherished my time working with him, but ultimately it was my unforgiving drive and dedication to my recovery that made me successful. I caught a glimpse of that quote on my wall every day as I endured swelling, throbbing pain, or some other physical ailment. I could never allow the thought of giving up to enter my mind. I was able to fully recover by mid-way through the Indoor Track season that winter, and I ran the 3000 meter in eleven minutes. I qualified for Class C competition, and I had truly beaten the odds. What I had accomplished and continued to excel in highlighted what had been hanging on my wall for the four months previous: Pain is temporary; glory is forever. The pain began to subside, and glory to make its place known. For my hard work and dedication to the sport, I was presented with the Coach's Award by the Rhode Island Boys Cross Country Coaches Association.

This experience taught me that I can accomplish anything if I put my mind and my heart into it. My Coach had given it his all when misfortune took hold of his life, and ultimately triumphed over his obstacles. The inspiration I found in the effort exerted by this man led me in making a most remarkable recovery from an injury that most people struggle with for years. Life is a force to be reckoned with, always interjecting inconveniences when we least expect or are least prepared for them. Regardless, I've always given it my best under any circumstances. I like to approach all challenges in life with a can-do attitude, and every situation with an optimistic outlook. Breaking my leg proved to be merely a setback in my life. The inspiration that fueled my motives made clear the feasibility of a successful comeback. I was shown that the physical possibilities existed, and with the words of wisdom bestowed upon me, I was provided with the mental resources to push myself through to the end. With one of the single most inspirational people I have ever known, guiding me in person and in spirit, I triumphed over my hindrance and learned one of the most valuable lessons of my entire life.