Hi, first time poster, long time lurker. I just wanted to share my story as an athlete through college and how throwing away everything, gave me back everything. It is long and may not be for everyone, but if you find yourself struggling, hopeless or whatnot; I hope this helps you overcome this point in your life, athlete or not. . . . . . .
I committed to play a college sport, and played my freshman year as the only freshman on a team of seniors who started the program (call this University A). Unfortunately the new coach and I didn't get along and some harassment ensured and I had to transfer for my mental health. So I went to community college, not to bad right? Wrong.
I quit my sport entirely my sophomore year (after 9 years if dedication) and failed out of community college. Was doing a lot of drugs (nothing hard) and drinking and ran into an old hs teammate at a bar. He convinced me to come play a little with my new schools clubs team. I denied it for a year and then got into the University (call this University B) and was about to transfer back home and quit college entirely when I ran into him at a gas station at 3am, very down on my luck.
He encouraged me once more to come out and I agreed.
The next night I went to play with them and ended up leaving on the club roster. Not only did it save my education but significantly helped me climb out of the hole of depression I had going on. This further led to a job with the schools actual NCAA team that I did for two years (University B) and graduated with my undergraduate.
That job opened more opportunities to me, and by still playing club, I developed my skill and rekindled that passion for it. I joking applied for a position to be a GA (graduate assistant) for the sport at another school (call this University C), just to entertain the thought of a master's.
Come to find out, my former teammate from University A, had just accepted the head coaching position and called me to confirm that this was actually me. To this day, that is the most mind breaking phone call I got. He wanted me to be apart of this new program.
Now remember the year I gave up (sophomore year) and really messed up and was broken? Well that single year allowed me the once in a lifetime chance to return PLAYING my sport at the college level, now as a graduate student. Moreover, since I had legitimately ONE semester of NCAA eligibility, he offered to pay my expenses that semester; since the school would help pay for it after when I worked for them as a GA.
Well, this was this past spring, and ironically I was the only senior on a team of all freshman. Roles completely reversed.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 ended my season early. But I wasn't going to give up that easy after all the shit I went through to get back here and fought for eligibility, and got 1 FULL year reinstated. With that , the school is helping support me for another year because of everything that happened during the spring.
Fast forward to right now. I'm a week away from beginning my final year of my master while getting it paid for and playing the sport that gave me everything from family and friends, to championships and my best memories. I am a changed man, and with the leadership position I'm in now, I can help make sure others find their way easier. I can't help but to truly be greatful for being this fortunate and promise to not only make the best of it, but to also leave a statement that no matter where you come from, where you go or what happens; you CAN still achieve your dreams.
The biggest coincidence about this all for me is that the absolute, most horrific, challenging, scary and darkest year if my life, is the exact reason why I'm able to be in the position I am. It took the worst year if my life to give me the best year. There were days I thought I wouldn't make it, and looking back, I just want to cry from how much I've grown and learned about who I am as a person. I truly never thought I'd ever find myself in this situation, and ,coincidentally, my biggest failures became my greatest paths to a better life.
[link] [comments]
from Things that motivate you https://ift.tt/3kjtQ0X
0 Comments