When I first came to school, the one saying I would constantly hear was, “College is the time to find yourself.”
I did not fully understand the magnitude of that saying until now as those four years have flown by. My time as a student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma has given me the opportunity to explore and discover myself, even when my experience was much different than I could have imagined. For most college athletes, myself included, it is almost a reflex to associate our identities with being an athlete.
I came to college with an idea of how my career would go. After dedicating so many years to my sport I thought I deserved to find success and the only way I could be fulfilled was to be at the top of the podium with a trophy in hand.
That is far from what my body had in mind for me. I was sidelined for three years of my career, during which I had four surgeries in four years. I would have never envisioned my career to play out the way that it has.
I was supposed to be victorious. I was supposed to have a name that would be remembered. I was supposed to be synonymous with college gymnastics for decades.
I did not fully understand the magnitude of that saying until now as those four years have flown by. My time as a student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma has given me the opportunity to explore and discover myself, even when my experience was much different than I could have imagined. For most college athletes, myself included, it is almost a reflex to associate our identities with being an athlete.
I came to college with an idea of how my career would go. After dedicating so many years to my sport I thought I deserved to find success and the only way I could be fulfilled was to be at the top of the podium with a trophy in hand.
That is far from what my body had in mind for me. I was sidelined for three years of my career, during which I had four surgeries in four years. I would have never envisioned my career to play out the way that it has.
I was supposed to be victorious. I was supposed to have a name that would be remembered. I was supposed to be synonymous with college gymnastics for decades.
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But similar to life, sports do not always go as planned. It was through these trials that I grew into who I was destined to be. After enduring countless hours of therapy and years of being sidelined on the competition floor, I began to see the world in a different perspective. Instead of pouring my energy into the sport of gymnastics to become the best gymnast possible, I was forced to find a way to use my talents to become the best teammate, friend and person I could be.
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Although I was not competing, everyone here at OU made me aware that I was still a part of something much bigger than myself. I shifted my focus to all the ways in which I could positively impact those around me. I found joy in the success of others. I sought the opportunity to make an impact on people – with or without wearing a leotard. I have always had a deep passion for helping others and through my injuries and personal reflections and the incredible people who have surrounded me, I found that passion again. |
I plan to become a nurse in the future and use my passion for others to make a difference in this world, with an end goal of leaving every place a little brighter than how I found it.
Many people may look at my career and deduct that injuries held me back from finding success. However, I do not see it that way. In fact, I believe I am the woman I am today because of my circumstances. I believe that my compassion for others, my drive and determination, and my ability to bring clarity to any situation is the result of the road I have traveled on over the past four years in college athletics. In the coming months, I will look back on my career and say I am an All-American. I am a three-time Big 12 Champion. I am a two-time National Champion. But that is not who I am. I am much more than my accomplishments in the sport.
Many people may look at my career and deduct that injuries held me back from finding success. However, I do not see it that way. In fact, I believe I am the woman I am today because of my circumstances. I believe that my compassion for others, my drive and determination, and my ability to bring clarity to any situation is the result of the road I have traveled on over the past four years in college athletics. In the coming months, I will look back on my career and say I am an All-American. I am a three-time Big 12 Champion. I am a two-time National Champion. But that is not who I am. I am much more than my accomplishments in the sport.
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As a student-athlete, I have learned that although championships are incredible accomplishments and experiences, they are just moments. Moments are temporary, but the path there is permanent. My path here at the University of Oklahoma has been the hardest, yet most rewarding journey I have been blessed to have been on. When I take the time to reflect on my experience at OU I cannot help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I may not have had the ideal collegiate athletic success one aspires to have, or a long list of stats and accolades to rest my name on, but I am, and forever will be, so much more fulfilled with my journey and all of the people, experiences and opportunities that have come with it.
I have been welcomed into and have been given a family simply by wearing an OU on my chest. That means so much more to me than any award ever will. Although I was unable to finish my gymnastics career the way I always dreamed of, I have learned to find beauty in the struggle. Because of that, I have peace, for it was the path that I made memories to cherish forever. I will carry the lessons I learned at the University of Oklahoma into my professional career and my life. Until my injuries and setbacks, I always believed that gymnastics was my one and only passion. The people and the culture at Oklahoma instilled in me a championship mentality that I will carry on wherever this life takes me, and that far outweighs what I once believed I was meant to do. This place, this school, and all the people whom I have been lucky enough to cross have taught me that there is so much more to life than the sport of gymnastics. Without the struggle or the journey, I would have never found my true passions in life, nor would I ever truly understand what it means to be a Sooner. Thankful for it all. |
