Merriam-Webster defines perseverance has continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. This word perseverance has taught me a lot about myself and shaped my personal growth. Without preserving I wouldn't be a freshman in college or have the opportunity to participate in college basketball. One challenge I faced as a young child was being diagnosed with a speech language impairment and specific learning disability in reading when I was in second grade. I was a young student who didn’t speak in complete sentences and read at a basic sight word level. School was a very uncomfortable place to be. I had a hard time communicating my internal feelings and understanding what teachers were asking of me. I remember going home crying to my parents and teachers calling my parents because I would be angry. My parents tell me stories of trying to communicate with me by playing a Charades-like game because they couldn't understand what I was saying. I would start communication mid-sentence or in the middle of the story and they would try to fill in the gaps to properly comprehend me. I started reading and speech intervention at school. At first it was uncomfortable and hard for me. I didn't always want to go. Once I gained trust and built a relationship with each service provider, it became easier. I would push back about practicing at home. My mom, being a teacher, did her best to encourage me. I know it was hard on her being a teacher and finding the balance between being my mom and a teacher. I wanted to practice on my own time, at my own pace. You could say I was a little stubborn. I participated in these services for several years as part of an IEP and then transitioned to a 504 plan when I was a junior in high school. Over time, I gained the skills and strategies I needed to access my education and be able to navigate school and class assignments. It can still be uncomfortable, at times, to participate in classes. I cannot read all material proficiently, but I have strategies and tools I use that help. There are times, I am self-conscious about my lack of reading ability or my ability to remember large amounts of information. However, I have found I have strengths that make up the difference that others do not have. I am very organized and planned out. I do not procrastinate and I have learned to advocate for myself. I have found ways to build my confidence. Preserving and achieving small goals have helped build my confidence. Part of my confidence came when I found basketball. Basketball has built my confidence. Being in the gym and playing basketball was so much easier than being in a classroom. I could read what was happening on a basketball court better than I could read words on a page. I still needed to work hard, give full participation, and walk through the uncomfortable to get better. It taught me perseverance, self-control, and patience. These were some of the same skills I needed to grant myself during reading and speech intervention. It was finally a place of peace. In that peace, I found the will to overcome the uncomfortable and succeed at the goals I set for myself. I am still a dyslexic reader, but I don’t let myself be defined by that. I know what I need to do to be successful and achieve my goals. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I am currently enrolled in the Applied Exercise Science program at Rivier University. I hope to become a physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and an athletic trainer. As an athlete I have learned the importance of exercise, nutrition, and rest. I have had a couple serious injuries that have required time with a physical therapist. At first you think "why" or "it's not important" but when you do as they say and take the necessary time to heal, it is all worth it when you are back doing what makes you the happiest. My latest injury was an ACL tear in my senior basketball quarterfinal playoff game this winter. It was a close game and in the third quarter I went for a layoff and another player bumped me. That is all it took. My high school basketball career was over. I never thought that would be how high school basketball would end for me. I wasn't able to play in the the Vermont Senior All-Star game that I was selected to play in. I wasn't able to play overseas in an international tournament. With the help from doctors and my physical therapy team, I am currently able to train with my college basketball team, but will need to wait until next season to make an appearance on the court during a game. Working with athletes is my dream career. Helping student-athletes learn the importance of healing and training correctly is only part of the job I want to do. I know I have used my physical therapy team as more than a healing source for my knee. They also keep my mind strong and my thoughts positive. They have become a sounding board for many other parts of my life. I want to be an ear, a positive supportive person in the life of other young people. I want to help them be at their best on and off field, court and/or ice. I want them to want to come and recognize that doing the small things can really make a big difference in their performance. I couldn't imagine myself in another profession. Sports has been a huge part of my life. Both of my parents were athletes and have instilled in me the importance of giving 100% effort. Part of that is taking care of yourself and complying with what your therapist's treatment plan. Having had work through some common injuries myself, I can use my story to help others to understand.

Sports has made me who I am today. Without sports I probably wouldn’t have done as well in school or in life. Sports has taught me basic skills like time management, organization skills, perseverance, how to work as a team, and mutual respect for others. As a student with dyslexia, academics are tougher for me. It takes me more time and effort to complete assignments. Being out on the basketball is the place where I feel comfortable. I can relax and I’m confident. I can read a basketball court or a playbook better than I can read a novel. People have said that I have a high basketball IQ. That makes me so proud because sometimes while sitting in classroom I don’t feel that way. Sports has given me confidence to stand up for I need ins classroom to be successful. I’m able to ask for help. I’m able to dig deep and persevere through hard tasks and handle the sometimes hard feedback I receive from teachers. Being a female came be challenging in itself. The pressure we face to look or act a certain way can be exhausting. You can forget about who you truly are. It can almost be anxiety ridden. However with basketball and strength training, it is my release. I can let out all those feelings in a healthy way. It helps kind my mind right. To many young females don’t have that outlet and tend to follow what people in what they say they should look like or act like. No way, not me! I want to be strong. I want to be an individual. Through a senior capstone project, I studied CrossFit. I am now addicted. I attend 3-4 classes a week. I earned an internship at the gym I’m attending. I hope to continue that journey throughout college and beyond. Basketball is my true passion. My parents have supported all my dreams of being a college athlete. I’ve put in many hours and years of hard work. I’ve had to wake up very early in morning to travel 2+ hours to practice with AAU teams because we live in such a rural area in Vermont. That dream has come true. I will be playing basketball for Rivier University in the fall while I study exercise science. After college, I want to be a physical therapist, athletic trainer, or strength and conditioning coach. Sports and being with athletes is my future.