Have you ever felt that you were on the right path, only to find out how fast everything can change? If so, you know exactly how I felt after undergoing my third knee surgery in a short span of two years. From a young age, I believed that it was God’s plan for my life to be an athlete. I had the academic ability to be successful in other areas, but my life revolved around sports, and I remained confident in my abilities, regardless of reminders of how few athletes make it to the next level. I continued to play sports up to my first surgery, where everything changed. My first knee surgery was terrifying. This was my first major injury, and I had no clue what to expect. While everything went according to plan, I still missed most of the season. For several months after my surgery, I stayed positive, committed to physical therapy, and eventually was able to return for the next season. However, God had other plans for me. Ready to prove myself, I entered the game, but it was short-lived after tripping over another player, tearing my medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). A second surgery was required, followed by another long recovery. While this was frustrating in the beginning, I stayed hopeful. I had done this before–I could do it again. Before the start of the next season, I had an accident with another teammate and tore my MPFL once again, this time in the opposite knee. At this point, I wasn’t just injured–I was lost. Why would God allow this to happen, again and again? For months after surgery, I was in a dark place–confused, angry, and questioning why God would allow this to happen, until one day, at my lowest, I read John 13:7, which reads “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” This was a turning point in my life. I realized that sports were my plan, not God’s. I began to reflect on what else he could have planned for me. Once I began trusting in God’s plan for me, Walking Proof was born. I created my clothing brand, not just to start a business, but to tell my story. My story is a testimony that can be used to reach others and encourage them to trust in God’s plan. I have come to believe I am walking proof that there is purpose in pain–and that anything is possible through faith. Over the last two years, Walking Proof has become more than a brand. It’s become a platform–a way to reach and inspire people facing their own setbacks. Along with the platform I have been blessed to create, Walking Proof has shown me what a life outside of sports looks like. Sometimes, people ask me questions like “What if you had never gotten injured?" and while it’s tempting to imagine that version of my life, I wouldn’t trade my life for the world. My injuries forced me to grow in ways that sports never could. They taught me perseverance, faith, and how to rebuild–not just my knee, but my story and my ambition! As I prepare for college, I carry all of these lessons with me. I want to continue to build on what I am already creating by telling my story in a way that inspires and uplifts others.. I may not be wearing a jersey anymore, but I have found a new purpose–and I am just getting started.

Have you ever felt that you were on the right path, only to find out how fast everything can change? If so, you know exactly how I felt after undergoing my third knee surgery in a short span of two years. From a young age, I believed that it was God’s plan for my life to be an athlete. I had the academic ability to be successful in other areas, but my life revolved around sports, and I remained confident in my abilities, regardless of reminders of how few athletes make it to the next level. I continued to play sports up to my first surgery, where everything changed. My first knee surgery was terrifying. This was my first major injury, and I had no clue what to expect. While everything went according to plan, I still missed most of the season. For several months after my surgery, I stayed positive, committed to physical therapy, and eventually was able to return for the next season. However, God had other plans for me. Ready to prove myself, I entered the game, but it was short-lived after tripping over another player, tearing my medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). A second surgery was required, followed by another long recovery. While this was frustrating in the beginning, I stayed hopeful. I had done this before–I could do it again. Before the start of the next season, I had an accident with another teammate and tore my MPFL once again, this time in the opposite knee. At this point, I wasn’t just injured–I was lost. Why would God allow this to happen, again and again? For months after surgery, I was in a dark place–confused, angry, and questioning why God would allow this to happen, until one day, at my lowest, I read John 13:7, which reads “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” This was a turning point in my life. I realized that sports were my plan, not God’s. I began to reflect on what else he could have planned for me. Once I began trusting in God’s plan for me, Walking Proof was born. I created my clothing brand, not just to start a business, but to tell my story. My story is a testimony that can be used to reach others and encourage them to trust in God’s plan. I have come to believe I am walking proof that there is purpose in pain–and that anything is possible through faith. Over the last two years, Walking Proof has become more than a brand. It’s become a platform–a way to reach and inspire people facing their own setbacks. Along with the platform I have been blessed to create, Walking Proof has shown me what a life outside of sports looks like. Sometimes, people ask me questions like “What if you had never gotten injured?" and while it’s tempting to imagine that version of my life, I wouldn’t trade my life for the world. My injuries forced me to grow in ways that sports never could. They taught me perseverance, faith, and how to rebuild–not just my knee, but my story and my ambition! As I prepare for college, I carry all of these lessons with me. I want to continue to build on what I am already creating by telling my story in a way that inspires and uplifts others.. I may not be wearing a jersey anymore, but I have found a new purpose–and I am just getting started.